Fox News and Muslim Producer Condemn Pirro Remarks

Fox News has condemned outrageous remarks by host Jeanine Pirro over the weekend suggesting that Rep. Ilhan Omar supports Sharia law in defiance of the U.S. Constitution because she wears a hijab.

“We strongly condemn Jeanine Pirro’s comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar,” Fox News said in a public statement. “They do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly.”

Pirro’s comments came on her weekly broadcast Saturday during a segment criticizing Omar, who is Muslim. The Minnesota congresswoman recently made  statements about Israel that have provoked bipartisan repudiation. They also led to a House resolution condemning bigotry. Omar in 2018 became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

On her show Saturday Pirro said:

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“She’s not getting this anti-Israel sentiment doctrine from the Democrat Party. So if it’s not rooted in the party, where is she getting it from?”

“Think about it. Omar wears a hijab, which according to the Quran 33:59 tells women to cover so they won’t get molested.”

“Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution?”

A Muslim who works at Fox News as a producer also added her voice to those criticizing Pirro for her comments about Rep. Omar’s hijab.

Hufsa Kamal Khan wrote on Twitter:

“@JudgeJeanine can you stop spreading this false narrative that somehow Muslims hate America or women who wear a hijab aren’t American enough? You have Muslims working at the same network you do, including myself. K thx.”

@JudgeJeanine can you stop spreading this false narrative that somehow Muslims hate America or women who wear a hijab aren’t American enough? You have Muslims working at the same network you do, including myself. K thx. https://t.co/ZfKhRhlvM3

— Hufsa Kamal (@hufkat) March 10, 2019

Kamal Khan identifies herself online as an associate producer on Fox News show “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

Pirro has issued a statement to clarify her remarks and she now says she wants Omar to come on her show “any time.”

“I’ve seen a lot of comments about my opening statement from Saturday night’s show and I did not call Rep. Omar un-American,” Pirro said. “My intention was to ask a question and start a debate, but of course because one is Muslim does not mean you don’t support the Constitution.”

“I invite Rep. Omar to come on my show any time to discuss all of the important issues facing America today.”

Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.