US-Muslim Lawmaker-elect Hits Back At Conservative Pastor Saying Congress Will 'look Like An Islamic Republic

A hijab-wearing Somali-American, one of the first two Muslim women elected to serve in the U.S. Congress in last month's elections, on Friday fired back at a conservative pastor and commentator who complained that floor of the Congress will "look like an Islamic republic.

NEW YORK, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Dec, 2018 ) :A hijab-wearing Somali-American, one of the first two Muslim women elected to serve in the U.S. Congress in last month's elections, on Friday fired back at a conservative pastor and commentator who complained that floor of the Congress will "look like an Islamic republic." "Well sir, the floor of Congress is going to look like America... And you're gonna have to just deal," Ilhan Omar, the congresswoman-elect, tweeted.

The incoming lawmaker was responding to the complaints of conservative pastor E.W. Jackson. "The floor of Congress is now going to look like an Islamic republic," Jackson lamented. "We are a Judeo-Christian country. We are a nation rooted and grounded in Christianity and that's that. And anybody that doesn't like that, go live somewhere else. It's very simple. Just go live somewhere else. Don't try to change our country into some sort of Islamic republic or try to base our country on Sharia law." Jackson's remarks followed reports that Democrats are looking to change a rule banning hijab on the floor of the House of Representatives to accommodate incoming Muslim lawmakers like Omar.

Jackson lost a Republican Primary to represent Virginia in the Senate in May. He went on to say that he was not Islamophobic, but his comments seem to speak for themselves: "The fact that we're electing these people to Congress and electing them to office is just beyond the pale," he said.

"Now, don't get me wrong, I believe in the freedom of religion, I believe in the First Amendment, but I'll tell you what, I'm not voting for a Muslim to serve in any office. Me, personally, I'm not doing it. I'm not doing it. Period. I'm not doing it." He added, "The threat to humanity is not merely radical Islam. The threat to humanity is islam, period. That's right, I said it and I mean it."Ms. Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian origin, are set to become the first Muslim women in Congress.