Vogue cover star Rep. Ilan Omar explains how the hijab means resistance and liberation; Updated

We’ve joked before about how freshmen congresswomen like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez find time to tweet between photo shoots: Ocasio-Cortez just appeared on the cover of TIME, where she tweeted to thank the photographer and makeup artist for getting her skin tone right. She’s also appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone recently, and was on the cover of Vanity Fair last year. And then there was that time she was “slaying lewks” in Interview magazine.

Rep. Ilhan Omar has been getting the star treatment as well and appears on the cover of Vogue Arabia. She tweeted a link to the story and added her own excerpt about her feelings about the hijab:

To me, the hijab means power, liberation, beauty, and resistance. https://t.co/mOF2wSZ1Gu

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 29, 2019

Look, we’re going to be honest. If a woman chooses to wear a hijab, that’s fine with us. After the Christchurch massacre, you probably saw photos of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wearing a hijab, and other women donned the headscarf too in solidarity with the victims.

Well I guess New Zealand is now an Islamic country. Here is the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wearing a hijab and Female citizens doing the same. #NotThatTheresAnythingWrongWithThat pic.twitter.com/3CSIwDc9QY

— Ethan Slyder (@EthanTSlyder) March 22, 2019

We’re also being honest when we say that it’s tough for us to see the hijab as a symbol of liberation and power when so many women in the world are forced to wear it. U.S. media like CNN have tried to make the case that the hijab is a feminist statement of some sort, but we’re just not buying that.

If anything, Omar’s hijab, in particular, has been a symbol of power: no one in Congress seems to have the balls to criticize her as long as she’s wearing it — that watered-down resolution that started out as a statement against anti-Semitism is proof of that.

I usually agree with you but that statement confuses me. Hijab from what I have seen is a submissive type thing. There’s no power in it except for the men that created that rule . It’s to keep women in check and as property. I grew up with Muslims and know from experience

— Ivan Gomez (@IGomezGuitar) March 29, 2019

I'm curious – do Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab fight for the right of other Muslim women NOT to wear it? Have there been protests on behalf of those who have been jailed, attacked, etc for not wearing modest garb? Honestly asking.

— Danielle Meitiv (@DanielleMeitiv) March 30, 2019

Good question.

Many Iranian women would disagree because in Iran hijab is not a choice. It is a symbol of oppression, stripping women of their dignity. Oppressive backward law created by men!
Without hijab Iranian women can’t attend school, work or go out in public.
They’ll be jailed & flogged.

— Saman Arbabi ?️ (@SamanArbabi) March 30, 2019

To my mom who has lived under #ShariaLaw for the past 40 years, #Hijab means subjugation of women; it means that women need to conform to a strict dress code at all times just because some men may desire them at some point if their hair/face is visible.

— شروان فشندی (@GadflyPersia) March 30, 2019

What it means to you is besides the point when you are free to remove it. Insist that the forced hijab violates human rights. That’s your obligation.

— Nancy (@coastalday) March 30, 2019

Hmm… Omar stuck with Iran and its position on the Maduro regime in Venezuela; we’re not so sure she’d be quick to criticize Iran in this case.

The irony is here in America, where we give religious freedom, you can choose to wear or not wear it. You won't be beheaded either way. Try that in the East.

— Defeated TO 31-6 (@TVB37801) March 30, 2019

Does it mean that to the Iranian women arrested for taking it off?

— JazzNeurotic (@JazzNeurotic) March 30, 2019

Western privilege wrote that quote. I’m thrilled for those of us who have it; we must fight for those who don’t. Women’s modesty laws are empowering when it is the *woman* who decides. Being religious in a free society bears no resemblance to being free in a religious society.

— Sara K. Eisen (@SarKE) March 30, 2019

Try to be Intersectional feminist under sharia conditions in Muslim Countries…and tell us your experience. Good luck!!

— Helena (@marygoldzm) March 30, 2019

Liberation… pic.twitter.com/GGqoMreTVM

— H. Kartoffel (@h_kartoffel) March 30, 2019

The liberation part surprises me I must say.

— Daniel Shapiro (@Shapiro_Dan) March 30, 2019

In my neck of the woods San Diego, a bikini gives me that same feeling, but you do you girl, and keep that head scarf away from me.

— Linda/Nan426 (@Nan426) March 30, 2019

Democrats sure didn’t waste any time adding an exemption for religious headwear once Omar was elected; she’s not wrong when she says it gives her power.

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Update:

Iranian activist Masih Alinejad caught Omar’s profile in Vogue:

When I appeared in Vogue some leftists attacked & said anti compulsory hijab campaigner can’t be in a capitalist fashion magazine. Now they praise @Ilhan .How hypocritical. They have no problem if Vogue is pro hijab. To me fighting compulsory hijab means power beauty & resistance pic.twitter.com/2Frs7IoQNG

— Masih Alinejad ?️ (@AlinejadMasih) March 30, 2019

Related:

‘No f*cking way’: Conservative women PUMMEL politician who wants all women wearing hijabs in solidarityhttps://t.co/q7PwwCS7l6

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 28, 2017