Omar Bennett
In 2018, a viral meme circulated on social media claiming that three Muslim women, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, and a third unidentified woman, refused to take the oath of office and uphold the US Constitution. This claim was false, as the swearing-in ceremony for the 116th Congress was scheduled for January 3, 2019, and there were only two Muslim women elected to Congress at the time, not three. Furthermore, Article VI of the US Constitution states that no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States, meaning that members of Congress are not required to swear their oath of office on a Christian Bible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of claim | December 2018 |
| Source of claim | Social media posts |
| Number of Muslim women in the claim | 3 |
| Number of Muslim women elected to Congress | 2 |
| Names of Muslim women elected to Congress | Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib |
| States represented by Muslim women | Minnesota, Michigan |
| Date of swearing-in ceremony | 3 January 2019 |
| Religious text used in the past | Bible |
| Religious text used by Rep. Keith Ellison | Quran |
| Religious text to be used by Ilhan Omar | Quran |
| Article of the Constitution regarding oaths | Article VI |
| Clause of the Constitution regarding religious tests | No Religious Test Clause |
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What You'll Learn
- Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were the two Muslim women who took the oath of office
- No religious text is required to take the oath of office
- The swearing-in ceremony for the 116th Congress was scheduled for 3 January 2019
- The claim that three Muslim women refused to take the oath was unsupported and false
- The claim was circulated via a viral meme and Facebook posts
Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were the two Muslim women who took the oath of office
There was some controversy surrounding the oath-taking ceremony, with social media posts falsely claiming that three Muslim congresswomen had refused to uphold the Constitution. However, this was not true, and Omar and Tlaib took their oaths of office as required by federal law.
The swearing-in process for newly elected members of Congress took place on 3 January 2019. Representatives are required to take an oath, swearing to support and defend the Constitution. While the official swearing-in ceremony does not involve a religious text, ceremonial swearing-ins follow, during which members can take the oath with their hand on a religious text.
Ilhan Omar, who was the first Somali-American elected to Congress, faced further controversy when she became the first woman to wear a hijab on the House floor. She has also been accused of using antisemitic tropes and has received criticism from both Democratic and Republican politicians. Despite this, she has continued to push for progressive changes and has been a prominent member of "The Squad," an informal group of House representatives.
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No religious text is required to take the oath of office
In the United States, no religious text is required to take the oath of office. The Constitution does not require the use of a specific text and only specifies the wording of the president's oath. While many presidents have used Bibles for their inaugurations, the wording of the oath does not include the phrase "so help me God". However, every modern president has appended this phrase to their oaths and most have chosen symbolically resonant Bibles for their inaugurations.
The practice of taking an oath of office dates back to the First Congress in 1789, with the current oath being a product of the 1860s, drafted during the Civil War. At the outbreak of the war in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered all federal civilian employees within the executive branch to take an expanded oath. This led to Congress adopting legislation requiring executive branch employees to take the expanded oath in support of the Union. In July 1862, Congress added a new section to the oath, known as the "Ironclad Test Oath," which required civilian and military officials to swear or affirm that they had never aided or encouraged "persons engaged in armed hostility" against the United States.
The Constitution prohibits religious tests for federal officials, stating that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." This clause, found in Article 4, Clause 3 of the Constitution, became a model that many states chose to adopt. By 1800, several states, including Georgia, South Carolina, Delaware, Vermont, and Tennessee, had prohibited or removed religious tests from their constitutions.
It is important to note that misinformation about Muslims and public office is not uncommon. For example, in 2018, social media posts falsely claimed that "3 Muslim congresswomen" were refusing to uphold the Constitution. In reality, only two Muslim women, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, were elected to serve in the House of Representatives at the time.
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The swearing-in ceremony for the 116th Congress was scheduled for 3 January 2019
The swearing-in ceremony for the 116th United States Congress took place on 3 January 2019. The event, which occurred at noon in Washington, D.C., brought in a record number of women, including the youngest congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the first Muslim and Native-American women.
Rashida Tlaib, one of the first Muslim women to serve in Congress, wore a Palestinian thobe to the ceremony. Ilhan Omar, who will take over Keith Ellison's seat, is the other. Ellison, a Democrat from Minnesota, was the first Muslim elected to Congress in 2006. Omar has said she will probably use a Koran at the swearing-in.
Before the ceremony, Nancy Pelosi, who reclaimed her former title as Speaker of the House, noted that over 100 women—including women of colour—had now been sworn in to Congress, 100 years after women gained the right to vote. Vice President Mike Pence led the ceremony at the Senate.
The ceremony was historic, as the 116th Congress ushers in the most diverse set of lawmakers in history.
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The claim that three Muslim women refused to take the oath was unsupported and false
In December 2018, a viral meme started circulating on social media, claiming that three Muslim women refused to take the oath of office and uphold the US Constitution. However, this claim is unsupported and false. Firstly, the swearing-in ceremony for the 116th Congress was scheduled for 3 January 2019, so no member could have refused to take the oath yet. Secondly, only two Muslim women, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, were elected to take the oath of office as members of the US House of Representatives in January 2019.
The controversy surrounding the oath of office and the use of religious texts is not new. In 2006, Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, took his oath of office using a copy of the Quran for a ceremonial photo op with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. While Ellison did not technically swear in with the Quran, his decision to use the Quran sparked controversy, with some Americans taking offence. This incident led to discussions about the role of religious texts in the swearing-in ceremony and the protection of religious freedom for elected officials.
It is important to note that the US Constitution explicitly states that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States". This provision ensures that individuals from diverse religious backgrounds can hold public office without facing discrimination or being compelled to take an oath that conflicts with their beliefs.
The claim that three Muslim women refused to take the oath of office is a misrepresentation of the facts and contributes to a broader narrative of misinformation about Muslims in public office. It is essential to verify information before sharing it, especially in the age of social media, to prevent the spread of false narratives that can have harmful consequences.
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The claim was circulated via a viral meme and Facebook posts
In December 2018, a viral meme and Facebook posts claimed that "three Muslim congresswomen" had refused to take the oath of office and uphold the US Constitution. The posts were shared by thousands of people and garnered thousands of comments and reactions. However, this claim is false and misleading on several counts. Firstly, at the time the posts started circulating, the swearing-in ceremony for the 116th Congress had not yet taken place, as it was scheduled for 3 January 2019. Therefore, no members of Congress could have refused to take the oath. Secondly, only two Muslim women, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, were elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 and were set to take the oath of office in January 2019.
The controversy surrounding the oath of office and the use of religious texts is not new. In 2006, Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, took his oath of office using a copy of the Quran for a ceremonial photo op with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. While Ellison did not technically swear in with the Quran, the use of the Islamic religious text sparked backlash and controversy. Some Americans took offence at Ellison's decision, and members of Congress weighed in on the matter. Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) issued a letter to his constituents, expressing his disagreement with Ellison's choice and stating that he feared the increasing influence of Islam in American politics.
The US Constitution explicitly states that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States" (Article VI, Section 3). This provision ensures that individuals are not required to adhere to a specific religion or perform religious rituals as a condition for holding public office. Despite this constitutional protection, misinformation and false claims about Muslims and their participation in public office continue to circulate, often fuelled by social media and online platforms.
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Frequently asked questions
No, this is an unsupported claim. The swearing-in ceremony had not happened when the claim started circulating.
Two Muslim women, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019.
There is no religious requirement for the swearing-in ceremony. Representatives can use a Bible, Quran, or another text of their choice, or no text at all.
Yes, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota used a Quran for a ceremonial photo op with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after his swearing-in.
No, this is inaccurate. Members of Congress can choose to swear their oath on a Hebrew Bible, a Quran, or another text of their choice, or no text at all.
