Source: Associated Press
On March 7, 2004 the Associated Press reported, "Leaders of 85 percent of the nation's mosques are involved in terrorist activities, and some have made irresponsible statements about the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, said Rep. Peter King, a Long Island Republican. 'I don't see any need to be politically correct here — the stakes are too high,' King said in an interview broadcast Sunday on WNBC-TV's 'News Forum.' The 85 percent figure was drawn from research done for his recently published novel, 'Vale of Tears,' about the World Trade Center attacks, King said. Muslim groups on Long Island have denounced the claim, accusing him of fanning anti-Muslim sentiment to sell books. King denied that charge. He said leaders of the mosque in Westbury, N.Y. had tried to pass blame for the attacks on a Zionist conspiracy and had not cooperated with law enforcement officers investigating potential terrorist activities."