Muslim Members Of US Congress Face Spikes In Death Threats: Rep. Ilhan Omar
New Age
Islam News Bureau
21 October 2023
·
Muslim
Members Of US Congress Face Spikes In Death Threats: Rep. Ilhan Omar
·
Pakistan
Star Misha Khan Slams Celebs For Attending Awards Event Amid Israel-Palestine
Conflict
·
Taliban's Restrictions
On Women In Afghanistan Receive Global Criticism At UNGA Session
·
More Women
Needed For Leadership Positions In Saudi Healthcare Sector: Experts
·
American
Mother And Daughter Hostage Freed After Two Weeks In Hamas Captivity
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-u-s-congress-ilhan/d/130948
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Muslim Members Of US Congress Face
Spikes In Death Threats: Rep. Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar
in the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 7.Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
file
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Oct. 20, 2023
By Alex Seitz-Wald
One of the few Muslim members of
Congress told NBC News she feels her life may be in danger after being
inundated with threats since a terror attack sparked the war in Gaza,
reflecting wider fears among Muslim Americans who feel they are being targeted
to a degree unseen since the days after 9/11.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., whose family
fled Somalia’s civil war before emigrating to the United States, unequivocally
condemned the Hamas attack, but her longstanding criticism of Israel policy
toward Palestinians and Washington’s support for the country has made her a
lightning rod.
The U.S. Capitol Police and the House
Sergeant at Arms briefed Omar and other progressive lawmakers critical of
Israel — including the only other Muslim woman in Congress, Rep. Rashida Tlaib,
D-Mich., who is Palestinian American — over potential threats last week,
according to a Democratic aide familiar with the meeting.
Voicemails shared with NBC News include
profanity-laced death threats calling Omar a “terrorist Muslim.” Another claimed
a vigilante group spying on the congresswoman and “your children” had obtained
“all your addresses and handed them out to rapists.”
“I’m from a militant group,” the male
caller of a third voicemail claimed. “I can’t wait ‘till our group sees you one
day and I can rip your f------ rag off your head... I hope the Israelis kill
every f------ one of you.”
In a statement, Omar said she and other
Muslim Americans have been victims of a “dishonest smear” that equates
criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians with support for Hamas, which
has created an environment where threats proliferate.
“It directly endangered my life and that
of my family, as well as subjected my staff to traumatic verbal abuse simply
for doing their jobs,” Omar said. “More importantly, it threatens the millions
of American Muslims.”
“This toxic language and imagery has
real-world consequences,” Omar continued. “House Republican leaders stay silent
as their party unleashes these toxic attacks and refuse to hold extremists in
their ranks accountable. Since assuming office, two men have pleaded guilty to
threatening to kill me. This is very real. I fear for my children and have to
speak to them about remaining vigilant because you just never know.”
Omar, Tlaib and other members of the “Squad”
of progressive lawmakers have long been targets of conservative media, and they
were frequently singled out by former President Donald Trump.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has called
them the “Jihad squad,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., dubbed them the
“Hamas caucus,” and the official campaign arm of House Republicans has labeled
the pair “Hamas spox,” Washington slang for spokesperson.
They have also faced official criticism
from their own party and Jewish leaders. The White House called other “Squad”
members’ initial response to the Hamas attack “repugnant,” while Sen. John
Fetterman, D-Pa., said Wednesday that it was “truly disturbing” that members of
Congress would take the word of Hamas over Israel after Tlaib repeated claims
that Israel bombed a Gaza hospital. (U.S. officials believe it was a misfired
Palestinian rocket, but questions remain.)
Tlaib is now facing a censure motion
from Republicans over the comments.
The security briefing last Thursday
afternoon, organized in part by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also
included Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., Cori
Bush, D-Mo., Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, Ayanna
Pressley, D-Mass., and Delia Ramirez, D-Ill.
Due to persistent threats, several of
those members have long been assigned security details, which is highly unusual
for members of Congress outside top leadership roles. But Omar’s office said
the threats in the past 10 days have been worse than ever.
In one voicemail left for her office, a
male caller says, “I wish that someone would kill you and put you in hell.”
Another male caller says she should
“drop dead for supporting f------ terrorists.”
“You work for this country,” the caller
continues. “Pull your f------ head out of your f------ turban-wearing ass, and
f------ see the light of day, you dumbass f------ terrorist-supporting f------
piece of s---.”
The caller who claimed Omar was being
spied on also said the group targeting her had hacked into all of her accounts
and was allegedly preparing to poison her and her family.
“Allegations are they’re going to kill
you and we get to watch on the internet,” the caller said. “I pray that they
f------ have justice on all you traitors.”
The Capitol Police said it does not
comment on specific threats, but confirmed that it has been “enhancing security
throughout the Capitol complex” and said it is “working around the clock to
coordinate with our law enforcement and intelligence partners across the
country to keep everyone safe.”
Last summer, a Florida man was sentenced
to three years probation and a $7,000 fine over a threat emailed to Omar,
Tlaib, Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley. And in 2020, a New York man was sentenced to
a year in prison over threatening phone calls made to Omar.
The offices of several Jewish members of
Congress either did not respond to requests for information about threats or
said they had not seen a notable spike.
Meanwhile, watchdogs have tracked a
surge in the number of incidents targeting Muslim and Jewish Americans
seemingly motivated by the conflict in the Middle East.
The danger feels especially real to
Muslims after a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy outside Chicago was killed
in what authorities say was a hate crime. According to court documents, the boy’s
landlord allegedly stabbed the boy 26 times after expressing hatred of Muslims
and anger over the Hamas attack.
“We are undoubtedly seeing a spike in
incoming threats and hate to the community,” said Corey Saylor, the research
director at the Center for American-Islamic Relations, the country’s largest
Muslim advocacy group, who said the group had been so busy responding to
incidents that it hadn’t had a chance to tally numbers yet.
In addition to some isolated acts of
violence and threats, like an Oregon mosque receiving the message “DIE MUSLIMS
DIE!,” Saylor said he has been particularly concerned about attempts to
intimidate students who have criticized Israel and spoken out about Palestinian
causes.
For instance, a mobile billboard circled
Harvard Square last week displaying the names and faces of students involved in
a controversial statement blaming Israel for creating the conditions that led
to the attack, while Google was forced to remove an anonymously created
document that included their names and personal identifying information in what
Saylor called a “mass doxxing.”
Meanwhile, Jewish organizations have
also stepped up their security in response to growing threats.
Oren Segal, who runs the Center on
Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League, said his group has tracked at least
141 antisemitic incidents (such as vandalism, harassment or assaults) in the 10
days between Oct. 7 and 17, which represents a 48% increase over that same
period last year.
ADL researchers also found a 400% surge
in “non-specific” threats about killing Jews, “Zionists” or Israelis on the
social media platform Telegram, an online space that has “incubated hatred and
animated real-world activity in the past,” according to Segal.
Antisemitism has already been on the
rise for several years, with FBI crime data released this week showing that
anti-Jewish hate crimes rose 37% from 2021 to 2022, reaching the highest level
in decades.
“In a time where a lot of the public
narrative is focused on divisions between our communities, we need to be allies
for everyone who is targeted by hatred,” Segal said of Jewish and Muslim
communities. “Those hatreds are often combined not only in the minds of
extremists, but those who want to divide our community.”
Source: nbcnews.com
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/muslim-ilhan-omar-congress-spikes-death-threats-rcna121248
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Pakistan Star Misha Khan Slams Celebs
For Attending Awards Event Amid Israel-Palestine Conflict
Pakistani
actors Sheheryar Munawar and Komal Meer (Instagram)
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21st October 2023
Mumtaz
Hussain Bhat
Islamabad: The Lollywood stars of
Pakistan are set to experience the glittering night and accolades at the 5th
International Pakistan Prestige Awards (IPPA) ceremony which will be today
evening in Manchester city of England. This highly anticipated event promises
to be an evening filled with glamour, recognition, and memorable moments.
The best and most talented stars will be
honoured and fans will love to watch their favourite stars under one roof. The
IPPA Awards have become an integral part of the global entertainment calendar
as various celebrities and other team members associated with showbiz get
rewarded for their work.
Several celebs shared glimpses on their
social media as they jetted off for this prestigious event. However, it did not
go well with Pakistani actress Mishi Khan who lashed out at actors who are
posting pictures of their travel to Manchester City to attend the award
function.
In a video which she posted on her
Instagram account, Mishi said that the actors should at least not attend such
functions until the war between Israel and Palestine ends.
She said, ”no celebrity is poor enough
to refuse to attend these award shows, they can say no”. She said awards aren’t
even paid, all you get is a ticket to London or some other place, a few will
get awards and nothing more than that.
Misha said that Pakistani celebrities
should learn to say no and urged the organisers to postpone the ceremony.
Earlier, Misha Khan also posted a story
and wrote, “Shameful act of celebrities who are going to London for awards,
they could have said ‘No’.”
The IPPA Awards 2023 will undoubtedly
feature some of Pakistan’s most iconic figures from the film, music, and
television industries.
It is relevant to mention here that
tension between Hamas and Israel escalated since Hamas launched an attack on
Israel on 7th of October 2023. Till now thousands of innocent people from both
sides have lost their lives.
Source: siasat.com
https://www.siasat.com/misha-khan-slams-celebs-for-attending-awards-event-amid-israel-palestine-conflict-2737391/
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Taliban's restrictions on women in
Afghanistan receive global criticism at UNGA session
20-10-2023
The restrictions imposed on the Afghan
women under the Taliban regime received heavy criticism from the Permanent
Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, and the Charge d'Affaires of
the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Tolo News
reported on Thursday. Speaking at the Third Committee, 78th UNGA session, the
representative of Turkey, Turkis Ismail Aydil, said that the fundamental rights
of all Afghans, including the right to education, should be fully respected.
"We are deeply concerned by the
erosion of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan, in
particular, for women and girls who have been imposed severe restrictions. The
fundamental rights of all Afghans including, the right to education should be
fully respected," he said. Aydil also pledged continued assistance to the
victims of the earthquake in Herat.
"Turkey will continue to stand by
the Afghan people to respond to their humanitarian needs and calls for global
efforts toward this end," Tolo News quoted him as saying. The Charge
d'Affaires of the Afghanistan Permanent Mission to the UN, Naseer Ahmad Faiq,
said at the meeting that restrictions on women erased the gains made by Afghan
women over the past two decades.
"Of utmost concern is the impact on
women's and girls' rights and fundamental freedoms. The Taliban regime imposed
systematic discrimination and strict gender-based restrictions, denying women
and girls access to education, employment, and public life. These actions erased
the hard-fought gains made by Afghan women over the past two decades and
undermined their ability to realize their full potential and contribute to
economic development. This systemic oppression created a climate of fear,
gender persecution and gender apartheid," Tolo News quoted Faiq as saying.
Meanwhile, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said at a
press briefing that they continue to support the needy people in Afghanistan
with their partners.
"Turning to Afghanistan, the Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that humanitarians are in a
race against time to meet the needs of affected communities before winter sets
in after the country was hit by three earthquakes. Night-time temperatures have
already begun to dip. In addition to people whose homes have been destroyed,
many Afghans -- including those in Herat City -- are sleeping outside out of
fear that their homes will collapse with additional aftershocks. We, along with
our partners, continue to support the response but much more needs to be
done," Tolo News quoted Farhan Haq as saying. Notably, the Taliban regime
in Afghanistan has received strong criticism from across the world for the
"gender apartheid" in the country.
Afghanistan's women have faced numerous
challenges since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Girls and women in the
war-torn country have no access to education, employment and public spaces.
Since the Taliban took over, in the last two years, they have issued over fifty
decrees targetting women, highlighted by human rights organizations.
According to Khaama Press, these decrees
have highly impacted marginalized women from Afghan society as they enforced
such stringent policies. A startling 80 per cent of Afghan girls and young
women, who are of school-going age, are currently denied access to education
under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, a new report by Care International
stated, according to Khaama Press.
It has been more than two years since
girls above grade six have been prohibited from attending schools in
Afghanistan, and it is unclear when those doors will reopen, Tolo News
reported. Afghanistan remains the only country to ban girls' and women's
education, resulting in a substantial economic toll of approximately USD 5.4
billion. (ANI)
Source: devdiscourse.com
https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/international/2676186-talibans-restrictions-on-women-in-afghanistan-receive-global-criticism-at-unga-session
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More women needed for leadership
positions in Saudi healthcare sector: experts
October 21, 2023
SULAFA AL-KHUNAIZI
RIYADH: While significant progress has
been made, more women are needed for leadership positions in Saudi Arabia’s
healthcare sector, according to several experts at a workshop held here on the
state of the industry.
Fatimah Alhamlan, a consultant and
women’s health advocate at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research
Centre, and the other participants, said women face several challenges in their
move toward executive roles.
The workshop was hosted by the Atlantic
Council’s empowerME initiative on Oct. 18 at American Express in Riyadh, and
moderated by Arab News’ Acting Deputy Editor-in-Chief Noor Osama Nugali.
Based in Washington D.C., the Atlantic
Council is a nonpartisan organization that promotes constructive leadership and
engagement in international affairs.
Alhamlan said Saudi Arabia’s astronaut
and biomedical researcher RayyanahBarnawi was a prime example of a woman who
was successful through patience and determination.
“She (Barnawi) used to be a researcher
in King Faisal Specialist Hospital. She used to work in a hospital in a lab, do
an experiment, and she ended up in space. The space is the limit.”
“If they (women) have the bright mind,
they can adapt, they can learn and they can achieve whatever they want.”
Samar Nassar, managing director for
healthcare services and technologies at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment,
said that women are dominating the healthcare and education sectors. “But if
you look at executive leadership positions, I mean, since I started my career
20 years ago, it’s been 20 percent across Fortune 500 companies.”
Naseem Almulla, customer excellence
director at the Council of Health Insurance, said that compared to the past,
greater emphasis has been placed on career-pathing for Saudi Arabia’s women in
the sector.
“With regard to what’s coming next, I
think now we have more of a structure and direction for women, so in the past
it had to be based on proving yourself as a personal effort and having good
networks. Now we have some kind of system in place, we have percentages to be
filled and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to be met.”
“I would still advise the young
generation to be patient. There is nothing like building your confidence. This
is your treasure.”
The participants also discussed the
importance of public mental for a healthy society, with Nassar saying that
incentives would soon be available to help build this part of the healthcare
sector.
“We are designing financial and
non-financial incentives to attract investments to help bridge the gap in the
value chain, which is around creating mental health facilities, clinics and
campuses.”
Now we have some kind of system in
place, we have percentages to be filled and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)
to be met.”
“I would still advise the young
generation to be patient. There is nothing like building your confidence. This
is your treasure.”
The participants also discussed the
importance of public mental for a healthy society, with Nassar saying that
incentives would soon be available to help build this part of the healthcare
sector.
“We are designing financial and
non-financial incentives to attract investments to help bridge the gap in the
value chain, which is around creating mental health facilities, clinics and
campuses.”
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2395081/saudi-arabia
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American Mother And Daughter Hostage
Freed After Two Weeks In Hamas Captivity
SURINDER SINGH OBEROI
21 Oct 2023
New Delhi, Oct 21: Two American
hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natalie Raanan, have
been safely released from captivity.
The two women, both US citizens, were
abducted by Hamas nearly two weeks ago during a deadly attack in Israel that
resulted in the kidnapping of around 203 Israelis, mostly civilians.
udith Tai Raanan, a 59-year-old resident
of Evanston, Illinois, and her daughter Natalie, who recently graduated from
high school, had been visiting relatives in Nahal Oz, a farming community in
southern Israel, when they were taken hostage on October 7.
Their release took place late Friday,
with the hostages being handed over to the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC), which played a neutral role in transporting them from Gaza to
Israel. This humanitarian release was the result of negotiations between Qatar
and Hamas, with a primary focus on the mother's poor health.
Abu Obaida, a spokesperson for the Hamas
militant organization, explained that this release aimed to refute claims made
by the US administration and demonstrate their commitment to humanitarian
actions.
Qatar also confirmed the release and
expressed its intent to continue dialogue with Israel and Hamas to secure the
release of all civilian hostages of various nationalities.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that the Raanans are now under the care
of the IDF and reunited with the family.
US President Joe Biden expressed his joy
at the imminent reunion of the Raanan family and extended his gratitude to the
Qatari government for its mediation efforts. He reiterated the US government's
commitment to working tirelessly to free American citizens held by Hamas.
This development marks a significant
step in the ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages, who are already
been in the captivity of Hamas for the last two weeks. and it is hoped that
more such releases will follow.
The abduction of the Raanans occurred
during a deadly raid in which over 1,400 people, including civilians and
soldiers, lost their lives.
This attack, the deadliest in Israel's
75-year history, revealed significant intelligence failures by the country's
security forces.
In response to the attack, Israel
initiated a blockade on Gaza and launched airstrikes, resulting in a
humanitarian crisis and significant casualties. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have
reportedly claimed the lives of more than 4,100 people, according to the
Palestinian health ministry.
This release of the Raanans offers hope
for the safe return of the remaining hostages and the potential reduction of tensions
in the region. Gaza residents are now eagerly awaiting humanitarian aid,
including drinking water, food, and medicines, expected to arrive from the
Egyptian border crossing today.
Source: greaterkashmir.com
https://www.greaterkashmir.com/world/american-mother-and-daughter-hostage-freed-after-two-weeks-in-captivity
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-u-s-congress-ilhan/d/130948