Nayyera Haq, a member of the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association, says her group hopes to dispel misconceptions about Islam. Asked during a radio interview what should be done if Muslim terrorists attacked the United States, Mr. Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, suggested bombing Islam's holy sites, including Mecca.
"That's when I realized there was something really wrong," said Ms. Haq, spokeswoman for Representative John Salazar, Democrat of Colorado. "Not just with members of Congress, but as Americans and our approach to dealing with 'others.' "
By last fall, Ms. Haq had joined with 22 other Muslims on Capitol Hill to form the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association. Ever since Muslim staff members began meeting for Friday prayer on the Hill in 1998, they had talked about organizing a staff members' association, one of the many groups in Congress based on ethnicity, religion or shared interests.
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