On Tuesday Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) exploded on an anti-female genital mutilation (FGM) advocate who asked her if she would condemn FGM.
“Your second question is an appalling question,” Omar said. “… I am disgusted, really to be honest, that as Muslim legislators we are constantly being asked to waste our time speaking to issues that other people are not asked to speak to.”
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United Nations data indicates that in Somalia, where Omar was born, 98 percent of young women have been subjected to the practice. Omar directed her questioner to look at her political record, which shows that in the House she co-sponsored a non-binding resolution (HR 106) that condemns FGM. She also voted “yes” on a House amendment to spend $1,000,000 to combat FGM. For more on Omar’s voting record on this issue, click here.
The reason people ask Omar and fellow Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) whether they condemn FGM, al-Qaeda, and Hamas is because they have made some related inflammatory comments, and because these are clear problems concentrated on Muslim communities both abroad and in the United States. For example, Tlaib once tweeted that she felt a “calming presence” when she thought about the Holocaust.
The FGM problem in Minnesota is largely driven by its large Somali refugee population. According to the AHA Foundation, there are 44,293 women at risk of FGM in the state of Minnesota, from where Omar hails. The AHA Foundation was established by Ayaan Hirsi Ali to protect women from so-called “honor” violence, advance freedom of speech in public debate, and support the work of Muslim reformers.
The AHA Foundation rates each state A-F on these issues. Minnesota received a D rating due to their poor anti-FGM policies.
