Rep. Peter King to testify before UK Parliament on Muslim radicalization

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., will be the first member of the U.S. Congress to testify before a British Parliamentary hearing this week when he talks to London about Muslim radicalization, his office said today.

King, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, held a series of controversial hearings earlier this year about radicalization within the Muslim-American community. Similar to King, the UK House of Commons Select Committee on Home Affairs has launched an investigation entitled "Roots of Violent Radicalisation" and has asked King to be their first witness.

"I am honored to have been invited by Chairman [Keith] Vaz to testify before the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee," King said in a statement. "As our vital ally, the United Kingdom, struggles with this same threat within its own borders."

According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service and House of Commons researchers, King will be the first member of Congress to testify before a Parliamentary hearing in the United Kingdom.

"While I have consistently stated the overwhelming majority of Muslim-Americans are outstanding people, the reality is that radicalization within the Muslim-American community by al-Qaeda and its affiliates is a real threat to the security of our homeland," King said.