A Muslim woman has become the first to wear a hijab in the
United States Congress after a 181 year old ban on headgear was upturned.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar became the
first member of US Congress to wear a hijab in the House of Representatives.
Whereas other headgear, such as baseball caps and cowboy hats, are still banned religious headwear will be allowed after the Democrats formally ended the ban as part of the package of rules to govern the House.
The 37-year-old Minnesota representative, who 23-years-ago
was a Somali refugee, tweeted: “As a kid, I acted as my grandfather’s
translator at our caucuses and he was the one who first sparked my interest in
politics. I wish he could be here to witness this historic moment, but he was
here in spirit as I placed my hand on his Quran for the ceremonial swearing
in.”
Omar is one of two Muslim women who were elected to
Congress, the other is Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Though Tlaib didn’t wear a
hijab, like Omar, she was sworn in using the Quran.