MPAC, Coalition Condemn House GOP Vote to Remove Rep. Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | February 2, 2023 — The Muslim Public Affairs Council joined a coalition of American Muslim, Arab-American, Jewish, and Iranian-American groups to respond to the removal of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee following a vote held by House Republicans. 

Today, 218 House GOP members under the direction of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy voted to oust Rep. Omar from her position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Following the vote, representatives from American Muslim, Arab-American, Jewish and Iranian-American groups held a press conference in front of Congress responding to the vote. 

The organizations present at the news conference were:

• American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
• Council on American-Islamic Relations  
• Emgage Action  
• Muslim Public Affairs Council  
• NIAC Action  
• Poligon Education Fund  
• JVP Action
• Tunisian United Network and Libyan American Alliance
• Others  

WATCH THE FULL NEWS CONFERENCE HERE

In a statement, MPAC Director of Policy and Government Affairs Mohammad H. Ali said:

“Censorship is a hallmark of authoritarian governments, and what the House of Representatives just voted in favor of is just another form of that. By stripping Representative Ilhan Omar of her position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, her unique perspective, specifically as a refugee, will weaken the panel from achieving its core mission. Given that, we demand the Speaker reverse the silencing of Rep. Omar’s voice.”

Read our full joint press release here.