Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan are the first two Muslim women to ever be elected to Congress. When congresswoman-elect Ilhan Omar, who wears a hijab — a traditional headwear worn by some Muslim women — is sworn in, she will be the first federal legislator who wears a religious headscarf reports Roll Call.
Due to a 181-year-old ruling that bans hats of any kind from Congress, Democrats are working to accommodate Omar and propose a rule change that will allow religious headwear on the House floor.
The Washington Post reports that the proposal, by Omar, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Incoming Rules Chairman Jim McGovern, is part of the House Democrats rules package entitled “New Congress, New Rules” to emphasize diversity and inclusion. In a summary draft list published by The Post, the document says: “Public servants working for the People’s House should reflect the faces of America. The Democratic rules package will provide an opportunity for all Americans to be included in this great institution”.
The Democrats working to alter this headwear ban serves as an explicit announcement that Muslim Americans, and other individuals who may wear a yarmulk, a dastaar, or other religious garbs, will always be allowed in Congress. Omar, tweeted last weekend, “No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It’s my choice—one protected by the first amendment.” She adds, “And this is not the last ban I’m going to work to lift,” reports CBS News.
No one puts a scarf on my head but me. It’s my choice—one protected by the first amendment.
And this is not the last ban I’m going to work to lift. https://t.co/7U3ZLTaWur
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 17, 2018
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
According to The Nation, regardless of the rule change, Omar and other Muslim Americans who may join Congress have a right to wear a hijab. In the United States Constitution, it states that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States”.
It is important to note that while Muslim Americans have no single origin because they are both racially and ethnically diverse, a Pew Research Survey published in 2017 shows that approximately 28% of Muslims in the United States are Asian.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.
