Rashida Tlaib Calls Out Democrats Leadership for Criticizing Ihan Omar over Israel Comments

Web DeskJune 11, 20211

Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., a Representative of the US Congress has strongly rebuked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leadership for their criticism on fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar for her comments involving Israel.

“Freedom of speech doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress,” Tlaib tweeted Thursday soon after Pelosi and Democratic leaders called out Ilham over her anti-Israel comments.

Freedom of speech doesn't exist for Muslim women in Congress. The benefit of the doubt doesn't exist for Muslim women in Congress. House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of color.

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) June 10, 2021

“The benefit of the doubt doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress. House Democratic leadership should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing of Congresswomen of colour.”

Tlaib and Omar were the first Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018. They, along with other members of the progressive Squad, have openly called out Israel, especially during the recent 11-day war with Hamas that left more than 250alestinians dead, and hundreds of others injured.

Squad stood by Omar as fellow Democrats, including House leadership, condemned the Rep. for comments they perceived as comparing US and Israeli “war crimes” to actions by the Taliban and Hamas.

This is what she exactly said:

We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity.

We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.

I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice. pic.twitter.com/tUtxW5cIow

— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) June 7, 2021

Pelosi and senior Democratic leaders condemned her comments in a collective statement issued on Thursday.

“[T]here is no moral equivalency between the U.S. and Israel and Hamas and the Taliban,” the Democratic leaders said.

The House Progressive Caucus also came to Omar’s defence and denounced how “a Black, Muslim woman in Congress” is routinely attacked and saying fellow Democrats should not “abet or amplify such divisive and bad-faith tactics.”