MINNEAPOLIS â The day after Rep. Ilhan Omar’s first public appearance since the raid on her home, Fox News Digital was given a tour of the mall where she reemerged in her home state.
The footage provides a glimpse inside an enclave within America that is dominated by Somalis and Somali culture, and a gives a peak into the community that Omar represents in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The mall isn’t just a place for people to buy clothing, food and receive services, but is a “community hub” of mostly women entrepreneurs, as described by a female shop owner.
“We’re here today are Karmel Mall with brother Basim, to kind of browse through this amazing community, corridor that is full of amazing women,” she told Fox News Digital, referring the Karmel Mall of Somalia’s owner, Basim Sabri, who provided the tour.
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Sabri, a Gaza-born immigrant, came to the United States to study in Minneapolis. During that time, he became a real-estate investor and steadily grew his business in the years to come. Now, he’s a local titan of industry and owns a vast real estate empire, which includes the mall and several apartment complexes in the area that house Somalis. He has political ties at all levels of local and state politics, and is friends with Omar. He also knew the Somali-born congresswoman’s father.
Fox News Digital interviewed him separately, days before the official tour of the mall.
For most inside, English is the mall’s second language. It’s packed with stores offering electronic SIM cards to call overseas, foreign money exchanges and travel agencies arranging trips to the Middle East and East Africa. Vendors also sell gold, fragrances and traditional Somali fashion items, mostly for women.
There are Somali barber shops, cafes, traditional Somali food vendors and henna tattoo shops. Sabri gave conflicting figures on the exact number of stores, once saying 900, and later 750.
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It sports a food court with a giant Somali flag painted on the ceiling, as well as Somali, Palestinian and American flags hanging from the walls. Many politicians use that space for press conferences, Sabri explained.
It’s also where Omar ate lunch with friends, supporters and state Attorney General Keith Ellison during Fox News Digital’s foray into the mall when the lawmaker reemerged after casting an early ballot in her own reelection.
Karmel Mall also has an Islamic weekend school for children, where they’re taught the Quran and engage in recreational activities.
While the mall isn’t strictly for Somalis, few outside the Somali community were present when Fox News Digital toured. Fox News Digital was initially bucked by security upon attempting to enter and film inside the mall without Sabri’s permission.
The owner once banned Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey from the premises in February 2024 after he vetoed an Israel-Gaza ceasefire resolution passed by the City Council.
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“It is kind of an incubator setti
