Hawzah News Agency (Michigan, US) – Islamophobia is "very much" a part of the Democratic and Republican parties, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said in an interview that aired Sunday.

Tlaib said on Showtime's "The Circus" that anti-Muslim bias played a big role in last week's controversy surrounding Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

"I know this would be somewhat shocking for some, but I think Islamophobia is very much among the Democratic Party as well as the Republican Party," said Tlaib. She and Omar are the first Muslim women elected to Congress.

"And I know that's hard for people to hear, but there's only been four members of Congress that are of Muslim faith. Three of them currently serve in this institution," Tlaib said.

"So you think Democrats have some Islamophobia and that's at the root of some of this consternation?" interviewer Alex Wagner asked in response.

"I think our country's struggling with it," Tlaib replied.

Both Tlaib and Omar have faced accusations of anti-Semitism from Republicans over their support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which is critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians. Tlaib is also the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress, in addition to being one of the first Muslim women in the institution.

"I feel like Ilhan and I both have been unfairly targeted. I think there have been double standards," Tlaib said.

Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.) is the only other Muslim lawmaker in Congress. Former Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), who previously held the seat Omar now holds, was the first Muslim elected to Congress in 2006.

Tlaib said in the interview that she was pleased the resolution condemning hate made a nod to Islamophobia.

"Of course I had mixed feelings beforehand. But the fact that we ended up with a resolution that talked about all forms of hate, including anti-Muslim hate, in our country, you know, it felt good. Being one of only three members among 435, I felt a sense of being seen, even for that moment," Tlaib said.

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