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Qaeda is targeting Muslim Americans for recruits to terrorism and the community must do more to combat Islamic radicalisation, a U.S. lawmaker said on Thursday as he opened hearings that have been criticised as a witch hunt.
A Republican congressman who has convened a public inquiry into radical Islam in the United States has been accused of staging a "show trial" reminiscent of the McCarthy-era hunt for communist sympathisers.

Representative Peter King, who heads the House homeland security committee, has come under withering criticism for the hearings, which begin today against a backdrop of increased terror plots by American Muslims.

Protesters and critics ranging from Islamic associations, civil liberties groups and law enforcement officials have said that by concentrating on extremism within the Muslim community, Mr King risked alienating Muslims who have supported police efforts to track terror suspects.

"We see no productive outcome in singling out a particular community for examination in what appears to be little more than a political show trial," said a coalition of 50 groups in a letter to Mr King. "McCarthyism and Japanese internment [in World War Two] betrayed American values and did not improve security."

Keith Ellison, the only Muslim in Congress, voiced concern that the hearings would fuel prejudice against Muslims and aid terror leaders.

"I don't want [terrorists] to be able to stand up and claim 'we told you, America is at war with Islam'. That's one of their main recruiting arguments," said Mr Ellison, who will testify today along with parents of young men who were radicalised.