EXCLUSIVE When her father died in 2020, it was Ilhan Omar who provided the information for the death certificate. She claimed her father’s name was Nur Omar Mohamed. She also claimed that her paternal grandfather was named Omar Mohamed and that she didn’t know her paternal grandmother’s name. Oddly, his gravestone only includes his first name. It reads, “Aabe [Father] Nur, Son of Awo Yusuf.” “Awo” is a female given name, so Awo Yusuf must have been his mother’s name. It’s strange that her name was considered so important that it was the only one included on the gravestone, yet Ilhan denied even knowing her name. In any case, none of this explains why he was always called Nur Said Elmi by those who knew him, or why Ilhan’s full name is Ilhan Abdullahi Omar. According to Somali naming traditions, if her father’s name was Nur Omar Mohamed, she should be Ilhan Nur. Where does Abdullahi come from? It’s incredible that we let people into our country without confirming their identities, much less grant them citizenship and a seat in Congress.
— Laura Powell (@LauraPowellEsq) October 28, 2026
When her father died in 2020, it was Ilhan Omar who provided the information for the death certificate. She claimed her father’s name was Nur Omar Mohamed. She also claimed that her paternal grandfather was named Omar Mohamed and that she didn’t know her paternal grandmother’s name.
Oddly, his gravestone only includes his first name. It reads, “Aabe [Father] Nur, Son of Awo Yusuf.” “Awo” is a female given name, so Awo Yusuf must have been his mother’s name. It’s strange that her name was considered so important that it was the only one included on the gravestone, yet Ilhan denied even knowing her name.
In any case, none of this explains why he was always called Nur Said Elmi by those who knew him, or why Ilhan’s full name is Ilhan Abdullahi Omar. According to Somali naming traditions, if her father’s name was Nur Omar Mohamed, she should be Ilhan Nur. Where does Abdullahi come from?
It’s incredible that we let people into our country without confirming their identities, much less grant them citizenship and a seat in Congress.
Replies
So what is the big deal about the grandmother's name......where is the significance?