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Ilhan Omar: The 9/11 row embroiling the US congresswoman

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A Democrat congresswoman says she will not be silenced after facing a barrage of criticism over comments she made about the 9/11 attacks - including from Donald Trump.

The US president tweeted "WE WILL NEVER FORGET" alongside a video showing footage of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks spliced with a speech by Representative Ilhan Omar.

"Some people did something," she is seen saying, in between footage of planes hitting the Twin Towers and people fleeing the buildings.

Republicans have accused her of downplaying the attacks, but Democrats have largely rallied to her defence, saying she had been quoted out of context and some accusing Mr Trump of inciting violence against her and Muslims. Here is how the row developed.

Who is Congresswoman Omar?
Ms Omar won a representative seat for Minnesota last November, becoming one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to the US Congress.

Her family originally came to the US as refugees from Somalia and she is the first congresswoman to wear the hijab.

Despite being a newcomer to Washington, this is not the first time Ms Omar has made headlines.

She has been accused of anti-Semitism over comments she made about Israel and pro-Israel lobbyists. After being rebuked last month, including by Democrats, she apologised and said she was "listening and learning".

The congresswoman has also raised the alarm about anti-Muslim rhetoric surrounding her, in response to a Republican poster that showed her alongside the Twin Towers.

Just last week, police arrested a 55-year-old man in New York state for allegedly calling her office with a graphic death threat in which he reportedly labelled her a "terrorist".

What did she say?
The "some people did something" quote was from a speech Ms Omar gave to civil rights group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair) on 23 March.

In the 20-minute speech she discussed issues affecting the community like Islamophobia and the recent mosque attack in New Zealand.

The comments in Mr Trump's video were taken from a point she made about the treatment of US Muslims in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks:

"Here's the truth. For far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I'm tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. Cair was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties."

After the Washington Post fact-checked the statement to clarify Cair was actually founded in 1994, a spokesman for Ms Omar told the paper that she misspoke and meant to say the organisation's size had doubled after the attacks.

How did the row develop?
Her speech began getting attention on 9 April, when a clip was shared by Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw, who described her phrasing as "unbelievable".

Conservative media outlets, including Fox News, then started discussing it in-depth.

Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, described the congresswoman as "anti-American".

Ms Omar responded by describing some of the comments as "dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face" and comparing her remarks to ones made by former President George Bush.

Image Copyright @IlhanMN@ILHANMN
Report
On Thursday, the New York Post published a front-page spread of an image of the attack with the headline: "Here's your something"

The cover proved divisive. Some on social media praised it, but others heavily criticised the use of 9/11 images.

Then, on Friday, President Trump posted the video of Ms Omar. It is currently pinned to the top of his account and has been shared tens of thousands of times.

What was the response?
Many social media users responded by using #IStandWithIlhan - which trended worldwide on Twitter on Friday.

CNN showed the clip in discussions, but then presenter Chris Cuomo apologised for airing it. MSNBC host Joy Reid also refused to show it.

A number of high-ranking Democrats, including many in the running for the 2020 presidential nomination, have come out to criticise Mr Trump and defend Ms Omar.

Elizabeth Warren accused the president of "inciting violence against a sitting congresswoman".

One reply to Ms Pelosi, by film director and frequent Trump critic Ava DuVernay, which said Ms Pelosi's comment was "not enough" has been liked thousands of times.

Rashida Tlaib, the other Muslim serving in Congress, and another Democratic Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have both called on senior Democrats to do more to support Ms Omar.

Responding directly in a series of tweets on Saturday, the congresswoman thanked people for their support and vowed that she "did not run for Congress to be silent".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47923753
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How is this woman walking the halls of Congress. How. <a href="https://t.co/CrtK7j3wpZ">https://t.co/CrtK7j3wpZ</a></p>— Erielle Davidson (@politicalelle) <a href="https://twitter.com/politicalelle/status/1116757289245872128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WE WILL NEVER FORGET! <a href="https://t.co/VxrGFRFeJM">pic.twitter.com/VxrGFRFeJM</a></p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1116817144006750209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Well she is inviting trouble with her attitude and statements. The people voted you in so you can work for them and not pass your strong opinions. You want to change the perceptions of Muslims in the country then do a good job.

She doesn’t realize we are still in vast vast minority in the country and need a lot of time and work to be issuing antagonizing statements like that.
 
I'm gonna preface my comments by saying there's undoubtedly a lot of bad faith criticisms being made of her by Republicans and of course Trump who can barely hide their bigotry and xenophobia.

Even Fox News' Brian Kilmeade had to apologise for questioning her loyalty to the country. Unsurprisingly death threats have been made against her.

However the extract from the speech Ilhan Omar made to CAIR that's been doing the rounds was poorly worded. She referred to 9/11 as "some people did something" - you gotta be smarter and more careful with your words than that because it sounds like you're minimising a tragedy and are just inviting criticism.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How is this woman walking the halls of Congress. How. <a href="https://t.co/CrtK7j3wpZ">https://t.co/CrtK7j3wpZ</a></p>— Erielle Davidson (@politicalelle) <a href="https://twitter.com/politicalelle/status/1116757289245872128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WE WILL NEVER FORGET! <a href="https://t.co/VxrGFRFeJM">pic.twitter.com/VxrGFRFeJM</a></p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1116817144006750209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Trump is the same guy who was giddy with excitement when he claimed that Trump Tower became the tallest building in Manhattan after 9/11. What Ilhan Omar said was nothing closed to what Trump and his ilk have said and done in the past in relation to 9/11.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How is this woman walking the halls of Congress. How. <a href="https://t.co/CrtK7j3wpZ">https://t.co/CrtK7j3wpZ</a></p>— Erielle Davidson (@politicalelle) <a href="https://twitter.com/politicalelle/status/1116757289245872128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WE WILL NEVER FORGET! <a href="https://t.co/VxrGFRFeJM">pic.twitter.com/VxrGFRFeJM</a></p>— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1116817144006750209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Its also quite amazing to see America and US Army doing all sorts of terrible stuff and then enraged by the parallels ppl draw between them and terrorist organizations.
 
Trump is the same guy who was giddy with excitement when he claimed that Trump Tower became the tallest building in Manhattan after 9/11. What Ilhan Omar said was nothing closed to what Trump and his ilk have said and done in the past in relation to 9/11.

Also Trump and his followers are going after Omar for antisemitism when it's Trump who described the Charlottesville marchers as "very fine people".

Those same marchers were chanting "the Jews shall not replace us". The hypocrisy is sickening yet the media calls it even and says both sides are just as bad.
 
White America is not ready to embrace Islam or respect it. This is creating more problems for democrats who are desparately trying to win back the white house next year. This lady just needs to stay quiet for now and work for her constituents.
 
You have to check the video where she said this to understand the context. She was primarily talking about double standards Muslims in the US face, and made a quick off the cuff reference to 9/11. Admittedly she didn't describe it in a smart way, but it was not a written speech nor was it intentional. They are intentionally making a big deal out of nothing.
 
Being anti Zionist isn’t the SAME thing as being anti semitist.
 
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Ilhan Omar says she’s faced increased death threats since President Donald Trump spread around a video that purports to show her being dismissive of the 2001 terrorist attacks. “This is endangering lives,” she said, accusing Trump of fomenting right-wing extremism. “It has to stop.”

Her statement late Sunday followed an announcement by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that she has taken steps to ensure the safety of the Minnesota Democrat and the speaker’s call for Trump to take down the video.

Soon after Pelosi’s statement, the video disappeared as a pinned tweet at the top of Trump’s Twitter feed, but it was not deleted.

Pelosi was among Democrats who had criticized Trump over the tweet, with some accusing him of trying to incite violence against the Muslim lawmaker. An upstate New York man recently was charged with making death threats against her.


White House press secretary Sarah Sanders defended Trump earlier Sunday, saying the president has a duty to highlight Omar’s history of making comments that others deem anti-Semitic or otherwise offensive and that he wished no “ill will” upon the first-term lawmaker.

But Omar said that since Trump retweeted the video Friday night, she’s received many threats on her life that referred or replied to the posted video.

“Violent crimes and other acts of hate by right-wing extremists and white nationalists are on the rise in this country and around the world,” she said. “We can no longer ignore that they are being encouraged by the occupant of the highest office in the land.” She said: “We are all Americans.”

Earlier, Pelosi issued a statement while traveling in London saying she had spoken with congressional authorities “to ensure that Capitol Police are conducting a security assessment to safeguard Congresswoman Omar, her family and her staff.”

Pelosi said officials will continue to monitor and assess threats against Omar, and called on Trump to discourage such behavior.

“The President’s words weigh a ton, and his hateful and inflammatory rhetoric creates real danger,” Pelosi said. “President Trump must take down his disrespectful and dangerous video.”

The video in Trump’s tweet included a snippet from a recent speech Omar gave to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in which she described the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center as “some people did something,” along with news footage of the hijacked airplanes hitting the Twin Towers. Trump captioned his tweet with: “WE WILL NEVER FORGET!”

Critics accuse Omar of being flippant in describing the perpetrators of the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. She later sought to defend herself by tweeting a quote from President George W. Bush, in which the Republican president referred to the attackers as “people” just days after 9/11.

Neither Trump’s tweet nor the video included Omar’s full quote or the context of her comments, which were about Muslims feeling that their civil liberties had eroded after the attacks. The tweet was posted atop Trump’s Twitter feed for much of Sunday, with more than 9 million views. It remained lower in the feed after Pelosi requested that the video be pulled.

Sanders questioned why Democrats weren’t following Trump’s example and calling out Omar, too. Democrats who criticized the president over the tweet defended Omar, with some noting their past disagreements with her.

“Certainly the president is wishing no ill will and certainly not violence towards anyone, but the president is absolutely and should be calling out the congresswoman for her — not only one time — but history of anti-Semitic comments,” Sanders said. “The bigger question is why aren’t Democrats doing the same thing? It’s absolutely abhorrent the comments that she continues to make and has made and they look the other way.”

Omar repeatedly has pushed fellow Democrats into uncomfortable territory with comments about Israel and the strength of the Jewish state’s influence in Washington. She apologized for suggesting that lawmakers support Israel for pay and said she isn’t criticizing Jews. But she refused to take back a tweet in which she suggested American supporters of Israel “pledge allegiance” to a foreign country.

Rep. Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat who represents Manhattan’s financial district, which was targeted on 9/11, said he had no issues with Omar’s characterization of the attack.

“I have had some problems with some of her other remarks, but not — but not with that one,” he said.

Sanders commented on “Fox News Sunday” and ABC’s “This Week.” Nadler appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union.

http://time.com/5570252/white-house-ilhan-omar-no-ill-will/
 
Brave and strong lady.

There are around 8million + plus Muslims in the US but too many are too scared to speak the truth.

Yanks still upset over 911 but have murdered millions more makes them hypcorites. Any criticism, they are ohhh but 911 we are the victims **.
 
It could lead to if there's no check point to see where you are heading.
We talk of checkpoints, what about the checkpoint for Israel which is a blatant apartheid state in this day and age. Ilhaan’s issue is with a lot of American leadership positions asking for unqualified leadership obedience and adherence of Israel’s agenda. How can you impose a foreign country’s agenda in the US? That’s what her comments were about. I don’t think she said anything about marginalizing the Jewish citizens of the country. Just that we should not impose the conditions of supporting Israeli interests of n American citizens.
There is a big difference between the two.
 
Brave and strong lady.

There are around 8million + plus Muslims in the US but too many are too scared to speak the truth.

Yanks still upset over 911 but have murdered millions more makes them hypcorites. Any criticism, they are ohhh but 911 we are the victims **.

Americans are brainwashed and required to “support the troops” no matter how misguided their war in Iraq is and how misguided their other military actions around the world are.

It’s pretty much a case of either you are with us or against us. What happened to the middle ground and freedom of speech? I support taking actions to ensure our freedoms and the basic tenets of American Union, but some of our policies do not go hand in hand with that paradigm.
 
Ilhan Omar: US has 'two-tiered justice system'

Ilhan Omar has called for nationwide reform following the killing of George Floyd and criticised some protesters’ use of violence. Speaking from Minneapolis, she told ABC News there was “real work to do, to heal” and that a new system is needed “that works for all of us”.

Omar, an immigrant from Somalia who was one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US House, called for justice – including action against the police officers present when Floyd died who have not yet been charged, with one charged with murder – and nationwide reforms following “social and economic neglect”.

She added: ”We are living in a country that has a two-tiered justice system and people are … sick and tired of being sick and tired. And we need to really step back and say to ourselves, where do we actually from here? And that can’t just be getting justice for George Floyd. It needs to be bigger than that.”

Omar said Minneapolis residents were feeling “terrorised” by the threat of their homes and businesses burning down – but also by the presence of tanks and national guard troops.

“What we are trying to do is try to figure out something between extreme aggression and ways to figure out how to not get our city burned down. And it’s a challenge.”

Omar spoke out against those causing destruction in the city, saying: “When we see people setting our buildings and our businesses ablaze, we know those are not people who are interested in protecting black lives.”

Donald Trump, she said, has failed to understand “the kind of pain and anguish many of his citizens are feeling.”

She added: “When you have a president who really is glorifying violence and was talking about the kind of vicious dogs and weapons that could be unleashed on citizens, it is quite appalling and disturbing.”
 
The crime committed by the Police is unforgivable and they need to be charged and jailed. But I find the hypocrisy of these people neuseating. A horrific number of black men is murdered each year by other black men, does this violence not count, where are the demonstrations against this, did the lives of the murdered not count.

https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2019/12/22/the-need-to-discuss-black-on-black-crime/

"homicide-victimization rates for black men were 3.9 times the national average and that 52 percent of all known homicide victims were black (2017 data). He might have added that the perpetrators of these crimes were overwhelmingly African Americans. In 2018, where the homicide victim was black, the suspected killer also was 88 percent of the time"
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can we get rest of this picture? <a href="https://t.co/19NG2Pmiey">https://t.co/19NG2Pmiey</a></p>— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) <a href="https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1285822218350600192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This photo was taken *four years* before I was born.<br><br>I know how gullible some folks can be, but time traveling isn’t a super power I possess. <br> <br>The question is: why does Twitter allow rampant hate speech and misinformation on their platform? <a href="https://t.co/ZYQ0o3wF8m">https://t.co/ZYQ0o3wF8m</a></p>— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1285955828810473473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can we get rest of this picture? <a href="https://t.co/19NG2Pmiey">https://t.co/19NG2Pmiey</a></p>— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) <a href="https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1285822218350600192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This photo was taken *four years* before I was born.<br><br>I know how gullible some folks can be, but time traveling isn’t a super power I possess. <br> <br>The question is: why does Twitter allow rampant hate speech and misinformation on their platform? <a href="https://t.co/ZYQ0o3wF8m">https://t.co/ZYQ0o3wF8m</a></p>— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1285955828810473473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tweet no longer available. Seems Giulani took it down. What was in it?
 
Tweet no longer available. Seems Giulani took it down. What was in it?

Just looked it up. Not surprised Giulani is fearmongering on terrorism as he was mayor of NYC during 9/11. Him leading NY through that tough time is one of the only reasons people still have respect for him.

Shame he’s throwing it all away.
 
Just looked it up. Not surprised Giulani is fearmongering on terrorism as he was mayor of NYC during 9/11. Him leading NY through that tough time is one of the only reasons people still have respect for him.

Shame he’s throwing it all away.

Rudy was known for putting guys in for fake/ mostly made up charges

So what he would do is harass a guy with like you would go to prison for decades if you don't tell me about the other guy and all the crimes your associates ever committed

Know this case might be about a robbery but to get all the guys he would add tons of bogus charges on the guy harass him and make him talk about all the criminal people he ever knew and than he gave the new people he arrested really long life sentences

A whole generation of black people were incarcerated under his administration in NYC
 
President Donald Trump urged the Justice Department to investigate Representative Ilhan Omar at a campaign rally on Friday, disparaging the Democrat and repeating unsubstantiated allegations she married her brother and migrated to the US illegally.

Omar and and other liberal, female lawmakers are an occasional target for Trump’s campaign speeches. On Friday, during a rally in Ocala, Florida, Trump said he thinks he’ll win Minnesota in November’s election because of the representative, who was born in Somalia.

“She hates our country. She comes from a place that doesn’t even have a government, and then she comes here tells us how to run our country,” he told his audience.

“Thank you very much, she’s a real -- she’s a wonderful -- she’s a wonderful person,” he added, sarcastically.

“If you look at the House with Pelosi and these people, it’s like they hate Israel and they believe in Omar, who came in here and married her brother or something, came in illegally,” Trump said, referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Come on, come on Justice. Let’s go Justice, Department of Justice.”

Omar arrived in the US at the age of 12 in 1995 as a refugee fleeing Somalia’s civil war, according to the Associated Press. She became a citizen five years later, at the age of 17. She was elected to Congress in 2018.

She has forcefully denied rumors circulated by conservative media outlets that her second husband was her brother and that she married him to commit immigration fraud, calling the allegation “absurd and offensive” in a statement issued during her congressional campaign. She has said she is the youngest of seven children but declined to identify her siblings for a 2018 AP story.

No evidence has emerged that she either married her brother or migrated to the US illegally. Trump has previously promoted the rumor himself, telling reporters in July 2019 that “I’m sure somebody would be looking at that.”

Omar’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/worl...nt-to-probe/story-E791VrGtX6g9uSmBK6BvqM.html
 
My question to my fellow Pakistanis here is this: How would you feel if someone described the Peshawar School attack as "some people did something"?

I'm not a fan of Ilhan Omar personally. She obviously faces a lot of bigotry and racism but she also consistently comes across as an apologist for extremist outfits.
 
My question to my fellow Pakistanis here is this: How would you feel if someone described the Peshawar School attack as "some people did something"?

I'm not a fan of Ilhan Omar personally. She obviously faces a lot of bigotry and racism but she also consistently comes across as an apologist for extremist outfits.

Depends on the context. For anyone who is not biased, it was clear that she meant the entire community can’t be blamed for the actions of some people. Her sentence sounds insensitive in isolation but if you watch/read her entire statement it was clear what she meant.

The APS attack was done by non-Pakistanis, I believe two of the attackers were also Afghans. Do you think all Afghans in Pakistan should be blamed for what some of them did? Of course not right? That’s what Omar meant.
 
Congresswoman Omar has been badly misrepresented and her statements taken out of context. She could have phrased her comments better but this is nonetheless Islamophobia writ large.
 
A very relieved Ilham Omar!


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KamalaHarris</a> on your historic win!<br><br>We have not only voted out the most corrupt, dangerous president in modern history but have the opportunity to carry out the most progressive agenda our country has ever seen.<br><br>Let’s get to work!</p>— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1325115682950967296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
WASHINGTON: US congresswoman Ilhan Omar faced a furious backlash on Thursday from colleagues across the political spectrum after the Muslim lawmaker accused the United States and Israel of “unthinkable atrocities” comparable to those of Hamas and the Taliban.

Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US Congress, has antagonised or offended members of her Democratic Party in the past with comments that have been decried as anti-Semitic or anti-Israel.

But Republicans and Democrats alike have seized on her recent criticism of the United States to demand she clarify her remarks, or call outright for punishment including being stripped of her committee assignments.

Twelve Jewish House Democrats issued a rare public letter of disapproval against a member of their own party, writing that “equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided”. “The United States and Israel are imperfect and, like all democracies, at times deserving of critique, but false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups,” wrote the group, led by Brad Schneider of Illinois.

“We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words.”

At a House hearing on Monday, Omar — who was born in Somalia and immigrated to the United States as a refugee in the mid-1990s — grilled Secretary of State Antony Blinken over accountability for victims of crimes against humanity.

She then followed up with a tweet that read: “We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”

“Rep Omar’s anti-Semitic & anti-American comments are abhorrent,” said top House Republican Kevin McCarthy.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2021
 
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334196/us-approves-bill-to-appoint-special-envoy-for-combating-islamophobia

The US House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to approve a Democratic proposal for a US State Department office to address anti-Muslim bias, after a Republican congresswoman used an Islamophobic slur against a Democratic colleague.

The House backed the bill in a party-line vote of 219-212.

The bill, authored by Representative Ilhan Omar, would create a special envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia and include state-sponsored anti-Muslim violence in the department's annual human rights reports.

"We are in the midst of a staggering rise of anti-Muslim violence and discrimination around the world," Omar said on the House floor. "Islamophobia is global in scope and we must lead the global effort to address it."

The House vote comes a few weeks after video emerged showing first-term Republican lawmaker Lauren Boebert calling Omar, a Muslim second-term congresswoman who was born in Somalia, a member of a "jihad squad".

That comment led to calls by Democrats for a vote to strip Boebert of her committee assignments, as well as criticism by fellow Republican Representative Nancy Mace.

Republicans have decried the bill, calling it rushed and partisan.

Debate on the bill stalled for about an hour after Republican congressman Scott Perry accused Omar of being anti-Semitic and affiliated with terrorist organisations. The House chair ruled Perry's words on the House floor impugned Omar's reputation and were inappropriate.

Aides for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer did not respond to requests for comment about the bill. Its fate in that chamber is unclear.
 
ISLAMABAD: US Congresswoman Ilhan Abdullah Omar is expected to arrive in Islamabad today (Tuesday) and the highlight of the visit will be a trip to Azad Kashmir, Geo News reported Tuesday.

According to The News, a senior official at the Foreign Office confirmed the visit though there has been no official announcement from both sides in this regard.

Per reports, Omar will meet the top leadership of Pakistan and visit Azad Kashmir.

The 37-year-old Omar belongs to the Democrats and represents the State of Minnesota in Congress, one of the two Muslim women elected to the US Congress in 2018.

She has staunchly supported Kashmiris in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and has often tweeted her support. In 2019 after the annexation of Kashmir by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Omer had called for an immediate restoration of communication; respect for human rights, democratic norms, and religious freedom; and de-escalation in Kashmir, saying that the international organisations should be allowed to fully document what is happening on the ground.

GEO
 
Republicans push to remove Ilhan Omar from foreign affairs panel
A vote is set for Thursday on a resolution aimed at the Muslim-American congresswoman over her criticism of Israel.

In one of his first moves since becoming speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy is leading an effort to block Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from serving on the chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee over her past criticism of Israel.

On Wednesday, the Republican majority in the House advanced a resolution to remove Omar from the panel. Democrats opposed the move, accusing McCarthy of bigotry for targeting the politician – a former refugee of Somali descent who is one of only two Muslim women serving in the US Congress.

A few Republicans initially opposed McCarthy’s effort, casting doubt over his ability to pass the resolution against Omar, given the GOP’s narrow majority.

But on Wednesday, all 218 House Republicans present voted to move forward with the measure, as Democrats remained united in support of Omar with 209 votes. A final vote is expected on Thursday as progressives rally around Omar.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) defended Omar, calling her an “esteemed and invaluable” legislator.

“You cannot remove a Member of Congress from a committee simply because you do not agree with their views. This is both ludicrous and dangerous,” CPC Chair Pramila Jayapal said in a statement on Monday.

...
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023...-remove-ilhan-omar-from-foreign-affairs-panel
 
Republicans have ousted Democrat Ilhan Omar from her committee post in a sign of escalating tensions in the US Congress.

They voted to remove Ms Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over her past comments about Israel.

Republicans said the move sent a strong statement against antisemitism.

But Democrats and Ms Omar said it was revenge after two Republicans were ousted from committees in 2020 when Democrats held a House majority.

Ms Omar also suggested she was being removed because she is a Muslim woman who immigrated to the US as a refugee.

"Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy?" she said shortly before the vote.

Republicans secured a majority in the House of Representatives following the midterm elections in November, and members voted along party lines to remove Ms Omar on Thursday.

She is one of three high-profile Democrats to lose a committee assignment under the new House majority, which is led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Some Republicans - including Mr McCarthy - argued Ms Omar should not serve on the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee owing to her past comments about Israel that have, at times, been criticised by members from both parties.

Ms Omar apologised in 2019 for implying money was behind support for Israel.

Then-Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi condemned Ms Omar's comments as antisemitic as they invoked bigoted stereotypes about Jewish people using money for influence.

"Antisemitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of antisemitic tropes," Ms Omar said in a statement at the time.

On Thursday, Democrats, including Jewish members of Congress, said Ms Omar had taken appropriate steps to educate herself about antisemitism.

Bbc
 
What nonsense. When Republicans removed following the rules of the game, it is fine but when Democrats are removed it is ethnic racism? Are these guys for real? What's the difference then between the ultra right and people like these? Looks like they are two sides of the same coin exploiting public perception to their advantage while remaining hypocrite at their core.
 
People like her is the reason why I'm strictly against my country accepting refugees.

More importantly people like these then complain why masses are voting in guys like Trump. When they do not have any policy to implement but only to exploit the system for vested interests, then ultra right will only have more conducive environment to thrive.
 
Well atleast she stood up for the Ummah before being escorted out.

:yk2


Oh but wait, I don't think I have heard her stick for the Uighurs ? :(

Or for the lakhs of Muslims who are killed by Taliban, AlQaeda and ISIS .
 
People like her is the reason why I'm strictly against my country accepting refugees.

Yes. India should not take a single refugee.

Today they ask for asylum in the name of humanity. Tommorow they will ask for parity with citizens. Day after they will demand we change our ways to suit them.
 
Yes. India should not take a single refugee.

Today they ask for asylum in the name of humanity. Tommorow they will ask for parity with citizens. Day after they will demand we change our ways to suit them.

Refugees who do not share anything common with the emigrating country will always be seen as outsiders. Their loyalty will be questioned every time something bad happens.

If Religion and Race are not the same, it will lead to a lot of problems in the future for both refugees and the host nation.
 
The amount of right-wing hatred directed at Ilham is simply amazing.

I hope Inshallah she will come out stronger from this experience.
 
The amount of right-wing hatred directed at Ilham is simply amazing.

I hope Inshallah she will come out stronger from this experience.

She is hated by Modi Supporters, Zionists, Saudis and Emaratis (Ummah traitors), and of course republicans

If anything Indian bhakts hate her more than what right wingers do specially after she spoke about Kashmir
 
This is what he is up against

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TW: death threat, profanity. <br><br>This is is one example of a death threat that came into my office this week.<br><br>These threats increase whenever Republicans put a target on my back. <br><br>They can continue to target me, but they will never stop me from fighting for a more just world. <a href="https://t.co/jnctEVSRz0">pic.twitter.com/jnctEVSRz0</a></p>— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1620962518515548163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
She just wants to be Imran Khan of America. Just have one issue to speak about and that's religion and does no real work but only make speeches. A leader has to do more than just talking, talk is cheap.
 
She just wants to be Imran Khan of America. Just have one issue to speak about and that's religion and does no real work but only make speeches. A leader has to do more than just talking, talk is cheap.

Ok let's take you up on that.

What actions should she take as an American politician?
 
Actually I take it back, I just found that she has raised the issue on Uighur's so credit where it is due, she is 'true' to the 'UMMAHH'
 
Actually I take it back, I just found that she has raised the issue on Uighur's so credit where it is due, she is 'true' to the 'UMMAHH'

Not sure why you keep on bringing Ummah into every post?

We are talking about Ilhan the American politician only.
 
Not sure why you keep on bringing Ummah into every post?

We are talking about Ilhan the American politician only.

I feel its hypocritical to talk about Palestine and Kashmir which she has in the past but muslims in general seem mum on the Uighur issue. I was initially under the misconception that she was one of hypocritical muslims ignoring the Ummah, but now I realize she is not, so giving credit where it is due.
 
I feel its hypocritical to talk about Palestine and Kashmir which she has in the past but muslims in general seem mum on the Uighur issue. I was initially under the misconception that she was one of hypocritical muslims ignoring the Ummah, but now I realize she is not, so giving credit where it is due.

I think even more hypocritical is when the critics don't talk about the persecution of Shias , Ahmedis and Hazara.
True on this side as well when it's convenient to bypass the persecution based on caste but focus on what's happening to hindus on the other side.
 
I think even more hypocritical is when the critics don't talk about the persecution of Shias , Ahmedis and Hazara.
True on this side as well when it's convenient to bypass the persecution based on caste but focus on what's happening to hindus on the other side.

Ok so now from USA politics we have moved to this.

Let stick to Ilhan only.

Otherwise the persecution of Muslims in India will also be brought in.
 
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I have mixed opinions regarding Ilhan Omar.

She has done some great things. For example, she raised voices regarding Kashmir issue and other Muslim issues. I respect her for that. Many politicians might have chickened out but she didn't.

However, she also showed support for LGBTQ community. Islam doesn't approve of LGBTQ lifestyle. Here's her position regarding LGBTQ: https://ilhanomar.com/issue/equality/.

Therefore, I don't consider her as a role model for Muslim girls. But, I give her credit for raising voices for certain Muslim issues.
 
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Ok so now from USA politics we have moved to this.

Let stick to Ilhan only.

Otherwise the persecution of Muslims in India will also be brought in.

Please bring in with facts and figures but be rational about it. And don't be selective when speaking about persecution. It's convenient to pick and choose to score brownie points in online forums but at the same time it's important to be rational and look inwards as much as one wants to look outwards. It's wrong whether a Muslim gets discriminated in India or an Ahmedi gets discriminated in Pakistan.
 
I have mixed opinions regarding Ilhan Omar.

She has done some great things. For example, she raised voices regarding Kashmir issue and other Muslim issues. I respect her for that. Many politicians might have chickened out but she didn't.

However, she also showed support for LGBTQ community. Islam doesn't approve of LGBTQ lifestyle. Here's her position regarding LGBTQ: https://ilhanomar.com/issue/equality/.

Therefore, I don't consider her as a role model for Muslim girls. But, I give her credit for raising voices for certain Muslim issues.

Omar is a fraud imo. She claims to be a supporter of Palestinians but her actions suggest otherwise.

She backed funding for Israel and a resolution recognizing Israel as a ally.

What is silly is Islamaphobes hate her but have little clue of this esp those from India who are still upset with her Kahsmir comments.
 
I have mixed opinions regarding Ilhan Omar.

She has done some great things. For example, she raised voices regarding Kashmir issue and other Muslim issues. I respect her for that. Many politicians might have chickened out but she didn't.

However, she also showed support for LGBTQ community. Islam doesn't approve of LGBTQ lifestyle. Here's her position regarding LGBTQ: https://ilhanomar.com/issue/equality/.

Therefore, I don't consider her as a role model for Muslim girls. But, I give her credit for raising voices for certain Muslim issues.

She cannot call herself a liberal if she is not pro-LGBT.
 
Omar is a fraud imo. She claims to be a supporter of Palestinians but her actions suggest otherwise.

She backed funding for Israel and a resolution recognizing Israel as a ally.

What is silly is Islamaphobes hate her but have little clue of this esp those from India who are still upset with her Kahsmir comments.

She is a US politician.
 
Omar is a fraud imo. She claims to be a supporter of Palestinians but her actions suggest otherwise.

She backed funding for Israel and a resolution recognizing Israel as a ally.

What is silly is Islamaphobes hate her but have little clue of this esp those from India who are still upset with her Kahsmir comments.

She has little to no choice if she wants to stay in US politics.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Muslim?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Muslim</a> from the birthplace of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Islam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Islam</a>; I reject <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IlhanMN</a>'s use of the victimization card.<br><br>Proposing that she was ousted from the FA committee due to her religion is just preposterous.<br><br>She should be thankful for the opportunities she received from the country she despises. <a href="https://t.co/516SvBnHpv">pic.twitter.com/516SvBnHpv</a></p>— Salman Al-Ansari (@Salansar1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Salansar1/status/1621951802726809600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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Omar is a fraud imo. She claims to be a supporter of Palestinians but her actions suggest otherwise.

She backed funding for Israel and a resolution recognizing Israel as a ally.

What is silly is Islamaphobes hate her but have little clue of this esp those from India who are still upset with her Kahsmir comments.

Yeah. I have noticed. She has a track record of playing both sides.

Like I said, she has raised voices for issues like Kashmir (which I respect). But, she also supported LGBTQ which goes against Islamic teachings.

I think she should pick a side. Either Islam entirely or far-left. She shouldn't try to be both.
 
Yeah. I have noticed. She has a track record of playing both sides.

Like I said, she has raised voices for issues like Kashmir (which I respect). But, she also supported LGBTQ which goes against Islamic teachings.

I think she should pick a side. Either Islam entirely or far-left. She shouldn't try to be both.
I am not her fan but she can be both. First off everyone should be LGBT friendly. It’s like saying I don’t want her to be pro black ( in 1960/s). We are in 20223 at the moment. Your religious beliefs are your personal beliefs. Keep them to yourself. This is USA. Not a theocracy like iran
 
Conservative calls to deport Representative Ilhan Omar over comments she purportedly made about Somalia have no legal merit, experts tell Newsweek.

The progressive Democrat, a Somali American and Muslim, has been under fire for remarks she allegedly made to Somali American constituents that have been viewed over 7 million times on X. Omar, a Somali American and Muslim, seemed to address a deal struck by Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland with landlocked Ethiopia to give it access to the sea.

Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have openly called for Omar to be deported, with the latter saying: "She flaunts using her position as congresswoman to protect Somalia's border while our border is invaded by MILLIONS of illegals who are a danger to America."

Immigration lawyer Rosanna Berardi told Newsweek that since Omar is a naturalized U.S. citizen, calls for deportation lack legal ground unless the individual in question gained citizenship through nefarious means such as fraud, misrepresentation or membership in certain organizations—or being dishonorably discharged from the U.S. military if citizenship was based on military service.

The Minnesota representative's statements, whether accurate or taken out of context, are also protected under the First Amendment, which extends not just to U.S. citizens but also to public officials who routinely express opinions on foreign and domestic matters and do so without fear of legal repercussions—especially deportation.

"The Immigration and Nationality Act allows for deportation/removal of individuals due to criminal activities, violations of status or violation of immigration law," Berardi said. "Deportation for expressing political views, particularly those covered by the First Amendment, is not legally supported. Political speech does not constitute a valid basis for deportation.

Source: Newsweek

 
'Squad' member Ilhan Omar holds off primary challenge

Democratic congresswoman and member of the "Squad", Ilhan Omar, has fended off a primary election challenge in Minnesota, according to US media projections.

Ms Omar faced three challengers in the primary contest to determine the party's nominee and will now continue on to the November election in the state's solidly Democratic-leaning 5th District.

The race had been closely watched after successful primary challengers took down two fellow members of the "Squad" - a group of progressive Democrats who have been among the most vocal critics in Congress of Israel's handling of the war in Gaza.

It was one of several primary races on Tuesday in Connecticut, Wisconsin, Vermont and Minnesota.

With 99% of the votes counted on Tuesday night, the Associated Press reported that Ms Omar won with 67,524 votes, or by just over 56%.

Coming in second was Don Samuels, a former member of the Minneapolis City Council who had also narrowly lost to Ms Omar in 2022.

He received just under 49% of the votes on Tuesday.

Earlier this month Rep Cori Bush of Missouri lost her primary race and in June Jamaal Bowman in New York was also defeated - both after pro-Israel groups poured millions into those races backing other Democrats.

The pair were elected in 2020 amid a year marked by racial justice protests after the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man.

A Super-Pac operated by the pro-Israel group American Israel Public Affairs Committee appears to have stayed out of Ms Omar's race.

It had spent millions in races against Mr Bowman and Ms Bush, according to data from Open Secrets, which tracks money in politics.

Super-Pacs are independent "political action committees" that can raise unlimited amounts of money to support an election candidate.

The Intercept reported on Sunday that a last-minute effort by wealthy pro-Israel donors raised six-figure sums to help Mr Samuels.

Opinion polls had suggested Ms Omar would win the challenge.

An internal poll taken last month indicated she was ahead by 30 points, according to media reports.

Ms Omar has gotten help on the campaign trail from progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and Vice-President Kamala Harris, who is running for president.

Ms Omar, who was born in Somalia, is one of the first Muslims to be elected to the US Congress.

She had been an outspoken critic of Israel even before the war in Gaza.

She was removed by the Republican-controlled House from the House Foreign Affairs Committee in February 2023 over a number of comments she'd made about Israel.

Democrats and Ms Omar said at the time it was revenge after two Republicans were ousted from committees in 2020 when Democrats held a House majority.

In 2019, Ms Omar seemed to suggest that Israel demands "allegiance" from American lawmakers and any criticism is viewed as antisemitic, implying money was behind the support for Israel.

Ms Omar apologised for those remarks.

In 2022, when the two last faced off, Ms Omar received 50% of the vote and Mr Samuels received 48%.

Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, who has served in the upper chamber of the US Congress since 2007, also won her primary challenge on Tuesday.

BBC
 
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