Representative Ilhan Omar is facing backlash after she appeared to ‘echo language’ used by Turkey to deny the Armenian genocide, The Hill reports.
Omar is one of two Democrats who voted “present” on a House resolution recognizing the systematic massacres of Armenian-Christians that took place in the early 20th century.
The resolution drew widespread bipartisan support in the House, passing with a vote of 405 to 11, and was brought to a vote alongside Democratic efforts to sanction Turkey for its incursion into northeastern Syria.
In a written explanation for her vote, Omar said that the recognition of genocide and mass atrocities should be done outside politics and “based on academic consensus,” a phrase that Armenian rights groups say Turkish deniers use to sow doubt.
“Rep. Omar’s suggestion that there is no ‘academic consensus’ effectively denies the Armenian Genocide,” said Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America. “It basically takes a page from the Turkish Embassy’s denial playbook.”
Omar’s office, on Thursday, sought to clarify that the congresswoman was stating she believes there is academic consensus on the fact that the genocide happened, emphasizing that her vote was a protest to the House using the genocide as a “political cudgel.”
The congresswoman also voted ‘no’ on legislation sanctioning Turkey for its offensive against U.S.-allied Syrian Kurds, saying sanctions hurt civilians more than the government.
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