Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar was mandated by the Minnesota State Board of Elections to either renew wedding vows with her brother, Omar Sharif, before November 3, or withdraw from the general election.
Originally born in Somalia, Omar married her eldest brother, also named Omar, in 1995 at the age of 13 so as to gain a favorable immigration status to the USA.
A loophole in immigration law passed by the Clinton administration allowed for both underage marriages, as well as marriages within the family, to qualify.
Speaking to a small group of reporters just outside the synagogue where the ceremony took place, Omar (female) told the crowd,
“It is the freedom our religion allows us that makes this possible. When he stepped on the glass at the end of the ceremony, I broke out in tears remembering what a great opportunity was afforded us the first time we he did it, so many years ago.”
Close family friend and fellow Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said of the vow renewal,
“It is important for America that Ilhan remain in office. We all love who we love, and if this small gesture of their love for each other is all it will take for that to happen, then it’s well worth it. I wish them both the best.”
As strange is this type of marriage may seem to most decent Americans, it is commonplace in lesser parts of the world.
The fact that this loophole occurred in a law passed by the Clinton administration is no surprise. Sadly, it was overlooked by the Bush administration.
The law was then shamefully amended by President Obama to lower the age to 12 and include polygamy.
While Trump has worked tirelessly to change this law over the last four years, his efforts have been consistently blocked by the Democratic majority House of Representatives.
Nancy Pelosi has voted several times against changing this legislation, while Omar herself once conducted a 24-hour cocaine-fueled filibuster to block a vote.
