In the 2024 election, newly sworn Arizona Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R) defeated Gregory Whitten (D) to represent Arizona’s 8th congressional district by more than 13 points. The Arizona Republican took his oath of office this week, and he used the moment to ISIS victim Kayla Mueller, which has attracted praise from conservatives.
Mueller, a humanitarian worker from Arizona, was abducted by members of ISIS while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria, in 2013. ISIS held her hostage for 18 months. During that time, she is believed to have been repeatedly tortured and raped by ISIS militants. Tragically, Mueller lost her life in 2015.
To honor the legacy of Mueller, Rep. Hamadeh used her family Bible while being sworn into office.
What a moment!
The new Congressman from Arizona (whose family is from Syria) uses Kayla Mueller’s Bible to take his oath. Kayla was a missionary from Arizona who was killed in Syria by ISIS.
The American people love the Mueller family so much. https://t.co/hoW9EK7pnO
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 4, 2025
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Rep. Hamadeh shared that “this year will mark 10 years since the tragic loss of Kayla Mueller, a beacon of selflessness and courage whose legacy continues to inspire Americans across the nation.” “Kayla’s parents, Carl and Marsha Mueller, have borne the unimaginable pain of losing their daughter and endured years of uncertainty surrounding her fate.”
“Their strength and resilience are the foundation of Kayla’s extraordinary spirit,” he concluded.
Then-ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is reported to have taken part in the torture of Mueller, and in 2019, President-elect Donald Trump (R) ordered a military mission that killed al-Baghdadi. Mueller’s parents subsequently praised the president-elect, and Carl and Marsha spoke in support of the president-elect in the 2020 Republican National Convention.
ABE HAMADEH: As I take the oath of office, I am profoundly honored to fulfill my promise to the Muellers and the American people by being sworn into Congress using Kayla’s family Bible.https://t.co/n8YndFBoM4
— Erica Knight (@_EricaKnight) January 3, 2025
The president-elect backed the Army veteran and former Maricopa County prosecutor in his race for Arizona’s 8th district, and Rep. Hamadeh says that he is now ready to uphold Mueller’s legacy as a member of congress.
“Kayla’s memory calls on us to live with purpose and courage, and I will carry her legacy with me as I fight for the freedoms and values she so deeply cherished,” he said.
