( CNN ) The first Muslim lawmaker to serve on the House Intelligence Committee said Friday that the violence perpetrated by Islamic radicals in the name of their religion `` certainly does n't represent the [ Muslim ] religion '' and encouraged those of all faiths to come together to stop it . `` It 's not any different than those who claim to be Christians or Jews or Hindus and commit atrocious acts , '' Democratic Rep. Andre Carson said on CNN 's New Day of the attacks . `` I think it 's clear that we will never win the war on national terrorism , or even global terrorism for that matter , without getting help from Muslims , getting help from Sikhs , getting help from non-theists — those who are committed to keeping our country safer and making the world a better place to live , '' he added . Carson 's religion has become a flashpoint for criticism from conservatives following his appointment to the House Intelligence Committee this week . Conservative publications have raised questions about his ties to Islamist groups that have been investigated for allegedly supporting terrorism , and his comments during a 2012 speech that U.S. public schools should look to Islamic schools as a model . But a top Democrat came to his defense this week , with New York Rep. Joseph Crowley , vice-chairman of the Democratic caucus , saying the comments `` offended '' him in a letter to members . `` These comments deeply offend me , as I 'm sure they offend all of you , which is why I hope all of us will take every opportunity to renounce these kinds of comments and discourage this kind of harmful talk , '' he wrote . On Friday , Carson thanked Crowley for his support and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for her `` boldness '' in appointing him to the Intelligence Committee , and said that `` for the most part , folks have been very excited about this opportunity on both sides of the aisle . '' He also weighed in on the elevated terror threat in France and the 10,000 troops the French government deployed across the country this week as a precautionary measure , following a week of violent attacks from individuals who 've claimed ties to ISIS and other terrorist groups . Carson said he believes there is `` more to unearth and discover '' about the threat facing France , and was supportive of the troop deployment , which he said was `` a start '' — but cautioned against the government overstepping its bounds . `` I know they certainly do n't want to become a totalitarian state , but in protecting the rights of citizens there 's a delicate balance between keeping people safe and surveilling the citizens to the point where we are targeting people specifically — not because of race , not because of religion , but making sure we are targeting the right people and eliminating the threat to make people safer , '' he said . He would not endorse a further commitment of troops from the U.S. to fight the growing threat posed by ISIS in the Middle East , saying `` we do n't want to have what we had in Iraq , '' but said while the administration has done a `` fantastic job '' addressing the threat , `` there 's more to be done . '' `` We can not win this war unless we get help from our friends in the Arab League and the international community . It 's very clear , '' he said .
Rep. Andre Carson said violence from Islamic radicals ` ` does n't represent '' the Muslim religion . He is the first Republican appointed to the House Intelligence Committee . Conservative Republicans have raised questions about his position on the committee in part because of his religion .