Father of Congresswoman Rep. Ilhan Omar Dies From COVID-19 Complications

The spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, pandemic has devastated many families across the country. With millions being forced to go on unemployment and uncertain about their economic future, many are also still processing the lost of loved ones due to the public health crisis. As of now, the U.S. has reported over 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus with over a million cases since the start of the pandemic. Now, it was announced this week that activist and congresswoman Rep. Ilhan Omar‘s father, Nur Omar Mohamed, passed away due to health complications related to the virus.

The Minnesota politician shared the news on Twitter and other social media pages paying tribute to her late father with a photo of them together. “No words can describe what he meant to me and all who knew him,” Omar said in her statement according to the Associated Press. “My family and I ask for your respect and privacy during this time.”

“Surely we belong to God and to him shall we return. It is with tremendous sadness and pain to say goodbye to my father, Nur Omar Mohamed. No words can describe what he meant to me and all who knew and loved him,” she wrote on Twitter under a photo of the two together,. Omar now joins California Rep. Maxine Waters and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren who have also shared they have lost close family members due to COVID-19.