Democrats of the House propose to change the secular rule authorizing the wearing of religious headgear | Policy

Democrats seek to change a 181-year-old rule that would allow a newly elected Muslim representative to wear her headscarf at home.

Ilhan Omar, Democratic Representative of Minnesota, is one of the first two Muslim women to sit in Congress. Omar is wearing a headscarf, however, a secular rule would forbid him to wear it in the House.

Now Democrats, who take control of the House in January, are seeking to change the rule to allow legislators to wear religious headgear, such as a hijab or kippa.

Omar, who came to the United States as a Somali refugee, tweeted"No one puts a scarf on my head except me – it's my choice – a protection protected by the First Amendment – and it's not the last ban I'm going to work on."

The new rule was co-authored by Omar, Representative Jim McGovern, who ranked the Democratic Party in the Rules Committee, and by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The proposal states that it "will guarantee religious expression" and "will specify in the rules that the wearing of religious headgear is permitted in the House Chamber". depending on the weather.

Current rules prohibiting headgear of the House, promulgated in September 1837, were originally forbidding people to wear hats. The language has been changed so that all people have to stay "uncovered".

The rule states: "Each member must remain uncovered during the sessions of the House".