Ilhan Omar, a prominent U.S. Representative from Minnesota’s 5th congressional district, has been a polarising figure since her election in 2018. As one of the first Muslim women in Congress, her background and political positions have drawn both praise and scrutiny. Among the most contentious allegations against her are claims of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Islamist organisation, and accusations of promoting an insidious Islamist agenda within the United States. Omar has associations with organisations purportedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, such as the Muslim American Society (MAS).
Background
Ilhan Omar was born in 1982 in Somalia and fled the country with her family during the civil war, spending four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before immigrating to the United States in 1995. She became a naturalised U.S. citizen and eventually entered politics, serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019 before winning her congressional seat. A member of the Democratic Party, Omar is known for her progressive stances on issues like healthcare, education, and social justice. Her election marked a historic milestone, but it also thrust her into the spotlight, where she has faced persistent allegations regarding her personal and political affiliations, not to mention an accusation of marrying her brother to gain US citizenship.
Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, is an Islamist organization that seeks to promote Islamic principles in governance and society. While it officially renounced violence decades ago, the Brotherhood has been accused of supporting extremist groups and pursuing a radical agenda in the United States. It is alleged to operate through front organisations aimed at influencing policy and public opinion.
Ties to the Muslim Brotherhood
The primary evidence linking Ilhan Omar to the Muslim Brotherhood centres on her relationship with the Muslim American Society (MAS). Reports, such as those from the Hudson Institute, describe MAS as an organisation founded by Muslim Brotherhood members, serving as its “de facto public face” in the U.S. The Federalist has noted that Omar has supported MAS, speaking at their events and having the president of the MAS-Minnesota chapter stand with her during her 2017 swearing-in to the Minnesota House. Additionally, a 1997 FBI file and a Justice Department filing have identified MAS as a front for the Muslim Brotherhood, providing some official basis for these claims.
However, her supporters argue that this association does not necessarily equate to direct ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. They assert that politicians frequently engage with community organisations to connect with constituents, and Omar’s involvement with MAS could reflect her outreach to Minnesota’s sizable Muslim population rather than an endorsement of the Brotherhood’s ideology. While MAS’s alleged links to the Brotherhood raise questions, her supporters claim there is no definitive evidence, such as financial support, explicit statements, or documented collaboration, that Omar herself is a member of the Brotherhood or actively advances its agenda. Her critics, however, are adamant and vehemently keep arguing that her positions, particularly on foreign policy, reflect an insidious Islamist agenda. Islamism refers to political movements that seek to implement Islamic law or principles in governance.
Asra Nomani, an Indian American journalist, author, professor, and prominent activist known for her advocacy on women’s rights, human rights, and her outspoken criticism of Islamic extremism and Islamism in the United States and globally, has been openly critical of Ilhan Omar. Nomani has worked as a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal for 15 years, including assignments in Pakistan post-9/11 alongside her colleague Daniel Pearl, whose kidnapping and murder she later investigated in depth. In her book,’ Woke Army, the Red-Green Alliance that is Destroying America’s Freedom’, she describes Islamist extremism as an “Unholy Alliance” between radical Islam and leftist ideologies in the U.S., arguing that this alliance uses social justice rhetoric to mask destabilising agendas.
Nomani has publicly criticised Omar, calling her a “modern day Muslim Supremacist” and part of an “unholy alliance” with Islamist groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). She objects to Omar’s associations, comments on Israel, and perceived promotion of Islamist ideologies over reformist perspectives, advocating for a separation of Islam from Islamism. Nomani, as a self-described Muslim reformer, contrasts her views with Omar’s, whom she sees as promoting Islamist ideologies. In an Investigative Project on Terrorism article from September 2019, Nomani joined a panel criticising Omar’s dismissive reaction to questions about female genital mutilation (FGM), suggesting Omar’s ideology threatens freedoms and democracy, aligning with Nomani’s reformist mission.
Foreign Policy Positions
Omar’s criticism of Israel and support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement are often cited as evidence of Islamist leanings. The Muslim Brotherhood is known for its anti-Israel stance, and Omar’s vocal opposition to Israeli policies—coupled with past statements perceived by some as anti-Semitic, such as her 2019 tweet about AIPAC’s influence—has fueled speculation. However, support for BDS and criticism of Israel are not exclusive to Islamists; they are shared by many progressive activists and politicians across diverse backgrounds. Without additional evidence, such as explicit advocacy for the Brotherhood’s goals, this alignment appears coincidental rather than conclusive. Omar has also criticised U.S. foreign policy, including military interventions and human rights abuses by allies like Saudi Arabia. While some Brotherhood factions oppose certain U.S.-backed regimes, Omar’s positions align more broadly with progressive calls for a restrained foreign policy, not a uniquely Islamist framework.
Legislative Record and Domestic Focus
Omar’s legislative efforts in Congress focus heavily on domestic issues. She has sponsored bills like the National Advisory Council on Unpaid School Meal Debt Act and the Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act, emphasising education, social justice, and equity. These priorities reflect her progressive Democratic platform rather than an Islamist agenda. There is no evidence in her voting record or sponsored legislation of efforts to promote Islamic law or governance in the U.S.
Advocacy Against Islamophobia
As a Muslim politician, Omar has been outspoken against Muslimphobia (Islamophobia is a Muslim Brotherhood-constructed term to shut down criticism of regressive practices in Islam) and for religious freedom. She co-led efforts to remove a USAID adviser over anti-Muslim comments, including claims about Muslims imposing Sharia law in America. Far from advocating for Sharia, this action suggests a defence of religious pluralism. Her public statements emphasise democratic values and shared prosperity, not the establishment of Islamic rule.
Concerns About Islamist Influence
Conversely, concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood’s alleged influence in the U.S. are not baseless. Reports, including congressional testimony, highlight the Brotherhood’s use of front groups to shape policy. Omar’s association with MAS warrants examination. On October 22, 2019, the US House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Asia held a hearing titled “Human Rights in South Asia: Views from the State Department and the Region,” focusing on regional human rights issues, including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. This hearing featured a notable confrontation between US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Aarti Tikoo Singh, an Indian journalist and Kashmiri Pandit.
Context and Background
The US has traditionally viewed Kashmir as a bilateral issue, but human rights concerns have increasingly drawn Congressional attention, especially following India’s revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, which removed the region’s special status. Aarti Tikoo Singh, born in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, into a Kashmiri Pandit family, was forced to relocate to Jammu after the 1990s exodus. With over 20 years of journalism experience, focusing on conflict zones, she holds a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University and has worked with The Times of India and other media outlets. Her testimony was part of Panel II, which included other experts like Nitasha Kaul and Angana Chatterji, discussing regional human rights (Human Rights in South Asia: Views from the State Department and the Region: Panel II).
Detailed Account of the Hearing
The hearing, chaired by Congressman Brad Sherman, included testimonies from State Department officials and private panelists. Tikoo Singh’s testimony, as detailed in her blog post “My speech at US Congressional hearing” (My speech at US Congressional hearing), emphasised the impact of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on Kashmiri civilians. She highlighted that “Kashmiri Muslims have suffered the most from terrorist attacks by Pakistan-sponsored militants” and criticised the global press for overlooking these victims. She also addressed the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits, noting their lack of a voice for 30 years.
During her testimony, Ilhan Omar interrupted, questioning Tikoo’s objectivity. According to reports, Omar stated, “Ms Singh, a reporter’s job is to find the objective truth about what is happening and report it to the public. You have an enormous audience at The Times of India and you have an enormous responsibility to get it right”. Omar suggested Tikoo was presenting a “sarkari viewpoint,” implying bias towards the Indian government, which led to a sharp exchange. Tikoo responded by accusing the hearing of being “prejudiced, biased, a setup against India and in favour of Pakistan,” and later expressed her frustration on X, stating, “Pakistani Islamists drove me & my community (Kashmiri Hindus) out of Kashmir in 1990, Hindu India denied me voice for 30 years & Islamist @IlhanMN gagged me today under the chairmanship of Democrat Congressman @BradSherman. Is this a democracy? No, it’s IslamoCapitalism talking”
Conclusion
While her association with the Muslim American Society and certain foreign policy stances have drawn scrutiny, there is no proof of direct membership, financial ties, or explicit endorsements linking her to the Brotherhood. However, the narrative remains unproven.
