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    Ilhan Omar's speech about representing Somalia in Congress goes viral with calls to expel her from the House of Representatives | Critic portal

    ZEMS BLOGBy No Comments8 Mins Read

    Somali refugee Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) gave a speech to the Somali community in Minnesota on Saturday, which went viral thanks to an English translation. Omar's translations say that she and her fellow Somalis are Somali first and Muslim second – without mentioning that she is American. Omar also said that she represents Somalia in Congress and told the audience that they control the US government's policy towards Somalia.

    The angry Americans demanded Omar's expulsion from the House of Representatives.

    Reporting of the speech is unclear as to the location, but a sign can be seen in the video with a partial date and location “(January) January 27, 2024… (is) the Minneapolis Hotel,” indicating that the speech was given in Minneapolis. on saturday; Omar repeatedly addressed Minnesotans in her speech.

    The speech also sparked controversy over Omar's statements about Somali ethnic nationalism and her expression of desire to regain territory from neighboring countries and issues with Somaliland.

    Omar posted a response to the criticism on Sunday, saying: “Not only is it oblique, it is far from it, but I expect no more from these preachers. I pray for them and their sanity. No nation state can survive if it starts “Their mandates are to participate in land lease negotiations with other countries without the approval of the federal government. Somalis in Somalia and in the diaspora are united in this effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of harassment and lies will change that.”

    YouTube transcript of an excerpt from the speech (slightly edited for formatting):

    A lot of people call me and ask me: Ilhan, you should talk to the US government. What will the US government do? My answer was that the United States government would do what we asked it to do. We as Somalis should have this confidence. We live in this country and pay its taxes. It's the state where your daughter is a congressman. As long as I remain in the conference, others will not seize Somalia's territorial waters. The United States government will not support others taking what is ours. So don't worry about it, dear Minnesota. You've got your lady in Congress. She is very aware and feels what you feel. As for President Hassan Sheikh (Somali), I say: We are very happy because of you. Because of the great work you've done. You have shown Somalis and others that no matter how big the problems we face as Somalis, we are a capable people. We are people who know their country. People who have never before in their history…(inaudible) people whose country could never be in danger. So I want to congratulate the people of Minnesota and Somalis everywhere for sticking together (as my uncle said). Also, how did you all stand by our president because he needs all of us to stand by him?

    Somalia for the Somali people. Somalia is one. We are all brothers and sisters. Our land cannot be divided. There are other lost lands that we will seek, God willing, one day. But as for the land we have now, it will not be divided. So thank you all for always honoring and welcoming me.

    Another version of the speech with an English translation was posted on X Twitter:

    Reaction of interested parties from Somaliland:

    While speaking to the Somali crowd, US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said: “As Somalis, we will one day seek our lost lands,” referring to the Somali no-go zones in Kenya and Ethiopia. Please note that Ilhan’s father was a military officer in Siad Barre’s army who used the same ideology as hers. Somali irredentism as a justification for committing the Ishaq Genocide Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Ethiopian and Kenyan soldiers are helping Somalia fight Al-Shabaab, which Somalia cannot fight even with billions of American tax dollars.

    Somaliland State Department: “We were deeply surprised, even shocked, to discover that statements made by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D) of Minnesota at a recent public forum were widely circulated on most social media platforms and are attached below for your reference. It is unfortunate that the language she used was not appropriate for the office she holds or the voters she represents. Her expressions lacked public decency and revealed a significant lack of understanding of basic facts. Of particular concern are her efforts to revive the Greater Somalia Win ideology which has been violent and dangerous. , which caused so much death, destruction and conflict in the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, her use of racist and ethnocentric rhetoric did not escape attention and left many, with a deep sense of disappointment. This was especially puzzling to those who remember similar racist attacks she was subjected to some time ago. Not long ago, she was deemed “not American enough” and it was puzzling to see her take a similar approach and accuse the entire nation of Somaliland of “falsely claiming Somali identity.” Furthermore, her ignorance of US-Somaliland cooperation in combating terrorism and piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf Barbara was shocking to say the least. We hope that the leadership and assembly of the House of Representatives will take note of her public behavior, such that she is not befitting a member of the US Congress or a representative of the esteemed chamber in which she serves.”

    Americans are not happy either. Chaia Raychik: “Ilhan Omar hates America”

    Lawyer Marina Medvin, “Ilhan Omar, a US Congresswoman, tells Somalis that she is Somali first, Muslim second, and… [no, American wasn’t even mentioned]. Oh, and she says her primary job in Congress is to protect Somali interests.

    Journalist Alessandra Pucci, “A wonderful speech by Ilhan Omar. It proudly claims that Somalia belongs to Somalis, that their brotherhood is related by blood, that Somalis come first, Muslims second, and that it is using the United States to protect its nation's interests. Besides the blood-and-soil rhetoric that is virtually indistinguishable from the “white supremacists” she is demonstrating against in the country where she was elected, she publicly acknowledges her own unethical behavior in office in the United States amounts to treason.

    Good question: “.@SpeakerJohnson When will Republicans hold a vote to expel (sic) Ilhan Omar from Congress? She is a traitor to America. Santos was sent off for less than that.

    Laura Loomer: “.@SpeakerJohnson how come you guys expelled @MrSantosNY George Santos from Congress, but you won't expel this jihadi from Congress? She has just admitted via video that she is operating in another country, controlled by jihadists, from “within the American system.” “This is treason.”



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