New Muslim Congress Proposes Change of Rule for US Head Coverage

The 116th Congress will be among the most diverse. Now that the Democrats took control of their legislative body, they will change the rules in order to reflect this reality.

The rule that would have stopped Miss Omar from wearing headscarves, or hyjab, was decided 181 years ago when the content of Congress seemed very different. Women and minorities could not serve as members. When the lawmaker determined that “each member should have his head uncovered during Congress sessions”, they referred to the usual practice of men in the 19th century wearing hats. The rule was not set to discriminate against religious minorities.

Even then, however, this rule caused debate. Some members argued that wearing the hat followed an important tradition in the British Parliament symbolising independence from the monarch. Others gave an even more practical argument, asking where they could put their hats.

However, the rule remained. Cigarettes, food, drinks and mobile phones are also banned at sessions.

Members of the House of Representatives have an advantage over Senate colleagues: they are always allowed to bring children to the session room.

Head cover has also been used in protest. In 2012, Democrat Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois was thrown out of the hearing room after holding a sweater's hood in his head as a sign of protest following the death of African teenager Trayvo Martin, who was killed by George Zimmerman and had a hood in his head when he was killed.

On Twitter, Ilhan Omar, who was born in Somalia, said he would seek an end to the ban.

Together with Congressman Jim McGovern and House of Representatives Chairman Nancy Pelosi from California, Ms. Omar is presenting a proposal under which an exception is made for head covering for religious or medical reasons. /voa