Ilhan Omar reveals Islamophobic death threat that followed Boebert video
Ilhan Omar reveals Islamophobic death threat that followed Boebert video
The US Representative called on the Republican party to 'confront anti-muslim hatred in its ranks' following a death threat she received.
2 min read
Ilhan Omar said she received thedeath threat after Republican Representative Lauren Boebertposted a video to Twitter suggesting Omar sympathises with terrorists [Getty]
Muslim-American Congresswoman aired a death threat she received andpressedfor the party to take action on during a press conferenceat the US House of Representatives.
The representative for Minnesota, who says Islamophobic attacks against her increase as Republican politicians engage in Islamophobia, called on the party to"confront anti-Muslim hatred inits ranks and hold those who perpetuate it accountable".
Omar -thefirst-American elected to Congress - said she received thedeath threat after Republican Representative Lauren Boebertposted a suggesting Omar sympathises with terrorists and calledthe Democrat during a House of Representatives debate.
“We cannot pretend that this hate speech from leading politicians doesn’t have real consequences, the truth is anti-Muslim hate is on the rise both here at home and around the world,” Omar said during the press conference.
“It was never an option for me to take off my hijab to run. Because I know that when we proudly stand up for our values—when we celebrate the diversity of this country, and the freedoms enshrined in our Constitution, others stand with us.”
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan)
Rep. Omar’s remarks:
"Islamophobia pervades ourculture... the most pervasive is theconstant suggestion that all Muslims are terrorists," Omar added, saying Boebert's remarks were not just an attack on her "but on millions of American Muslims".
Omar,who led the conference alongside fellow US representativesAndré Carson and Rashida Tlaib,played the death threat,which she received by voice-mail.
“Don’t worry there’s plenty that would love the opportunity to take you off the face of the fg earth… you jihadist, you will not live much longer b***h, I can almost guarantee you that,” the voicemailplayed.
This comes after to "anyone in the Muslimcommunity I offended" after making the remarks about Omar.
However, some called her apology as beinginsincere, as Boebert stated that her commentshadbecome an "unnecessary distraction" from policy differences.
