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[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] '''Keith Ellison''' is the first [[Muslim]] to serve in the United States Congress. He represents the 5th Congressional District of Minnesota. Born in Detroit, he converted to Islam while in college. Ellison is quite contraversial due to past statements made about [[Jews]] and White people, and his ties with the radical [[Nation of Islam]].

[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] '''Keith Ellison''' is the first [[Muslim]] to serve in the United States Congress. He represents the 5th Congressional District of Minnesota. Born in Detroit, he converted to Islam while in college. Ellison is quite contraversial due to past statements made about [[Jews]] and White people, and his ties with the radical [[Nation of Islam]].

During his swearing in ceremony in early January 2007, Ellison replaced the [[Bible]] with a the [[Quran]] and then took his oath of duty with one hand placed on the Quran.

It is traditional for newly-sworn members of the House of Representatives to repeat their oaths with their hand on a Bible for photographers<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/story/206/story_20604_1.html</ref>. When Ellison was ceremonially "sworn-in," he used a Quran that once belonged to Thomas Jefferson.<ref>http://www.beliefnet.com/story/206/story_20604_1.html</ref>

 

[[Category:Political people]]

[[Category:Political people]]