The first two Muslim women, of Palestinian and Somali origins, took an oath on the Quran as they were sworn into Congress
Congress members Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar made history on Thursday as they were sworn into the 116th Congress, becoming the first American Muslim women in the US House of Representatives.
Ms Tlaib, a Detroit native whose family hails from a small Palestinian village in the West Bank, was sworn into the 116th Congress using Thomas Jefferson’s copy of the Quran, translated into English in 1734.
Ms Omar, a refugee from Somalia who sought asylum in the United States 23 years ago, took the oath using a Quran belonging to her late grandfather.
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar, center, a freshman Democrat representing Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, is sworn in on the House floor by new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the first day of the 116th Congress, ,. AP -
US House Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) participates in a ceremonial swearing-in from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at the start of the 116th Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. AFP -
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the first Palestinian-American elected to the House, poses with supporters outside her office at the Longworth House Office Building (LHOB), in Washington, D.C., U.S.,Reuters -
U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) (TOP R) holds a sleeping child as the U.S. House of Representatives meets for the start of the 116th Congress. Reuters -
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the first Palestinian-American elected to the House, poses with supporters outside her office at the Longworth House Office Building (LHOB), in Washington, D.C., U.S. Reuters -
Member-elect Rashida Tlaib(D-MI) plays with her children during the 116th Congress and swearing-in ceremony on the floor of the US House of Representatives at the US Capitol. AFP -
Fadwa Tlaib, an aunt of Rashida Tlaib, points to a young Rashida in a 1987 picture with her mother Fatima and brother Nader, at the family house, in the West Bank village of Beit Ur Al Foqa. AP -
Democratic Representative from Michigan Rashida Tlaib (2-R), participates in a ceremonial swearing-in photograph with Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (2-L), during the first day of the 116th Congress. EPA -
epa07260651 Democratic Representative from Minnesota Ilhan Omar (2-R), uses the Koran of her late grandfather while posing with new Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (2-L), during the first day of the 116th Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 03 January 2019. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER -
Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar (L) reacts after taking the oath of office from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during the opening session of the 116th Congress in the US Capitol. EPA -
Representative-elect Ilhan Omar holds a baby during a ceremony for the opening of the 116th Congress in the House Chamber. Bloomberg
Ms Omar arrived to Congress accompanied by her father and wearing a hijab. She is set to become the first US Congress representative to wear the traditional Muslim veil.
“23 years ago, from a refugee camp in Kenya, my father and I arrived at an airport in Washington DC. Today, we return to that same airport on the eve of my swearing in as the first Somali-American in Congress.”
Her teary-eyed father called the moment “amazing”.
Ms Tlaib instead wore a traditional Palestinian thobe, a long-sleeve garment that is typically hand-embroidered with symbols representing one's family.
The move inspired thousands of Palestinian women on Twitter to show solidarity by wearing theirs and tweeting under hashtag #TweetYourThobe:
The hashtag was started by Palestinian Susan Darraj:
Others dressed their daughters in the traditional dress:
As Ms Tlaib was sworn in, her son was caught dabbing – a gesture of triumph popular among the American youth.
Ms Tlaib tweeted her business card after being sworn in, telling constituents that "her door is always open".
Ms Omar shared her photo with Speaker Pelosi taking the oath over a copy of her grandfather's Quran:
The 116th US Congress has a record number of women in its ranks with 102 women in US House of Representatives and 23 women in the Senate.
Alongside Ms Omar and Ms Tlaib, Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland became the first Native American women in Congress. The first two Latino members will represent the state of Texas, and an openly gay Congressman is representing New Hampshire.
For the first time, a woman will represent Arizona in the Senate for the Democratic party, while a female representative from the Republican party will enter Senate from Tennessee.
___________________
Read more:
Mitt Romney says Donald Trump has not risen to the mantle of the office
Democrats reveal plan to end US government shutdown but without border wall
