Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib to wear Palestinian thobe at swearing-in ceremony

Democratic rep-elect Tlaib made history in November by becoming the first Palestinian American woman to be elected to Congress.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

17 December, 2018

Rashida Tlaib is the first Palestinian-American woman to be elected to Congress [Getty]

US representative-elect Rashida Tlaib will wear a traditional Palestinian gown when she is sworn in to Congress.

The Democratic representative for Michigan in November became the first Palestinian American to serve Congress, among a number of trailblazing progressive women to win a seat in the Midterm elections.

"Sneak peek: This is what I am wearing when I am sworn into Congress. #PalestinianThobe #ForMyYama," Tlaib posted on Instagram on Friday. Yama means "mother" in Arabic.

Tlaib herself was born in Detroit after her parents both left Palestine in the 1970s.

The traditional thobe is an ankle-length garment worn across the Arab world, with the Palestinian design distinctive for its red embroidery. The pattern of the stitching represents a particular Palestinian town or village.

Earlier this month, Tlaib told The Intercept she is planning to lead a Congressional delegation to the West Bank, having endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement that seeks to draw attention to Israel's human rights abuses.

Read more: The New Arab meets Rashida Tlaib