By Curt Yeomans<\/p>\n
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Two new senators from Gwinnett County made state history on Day One of the legislative session. Sen. Zahra Karinshak, D-Duluth, was sworn in as Georgia\u2019s first Iranian-American legislator while Sen. Sheikh Rahman, D-Lawrenceville, was sworn in as the state\u2019s first Muslim legislator.<\/p>\n
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Rahman also said the historic aspect of his election was not foremost on his mind. He had highlighted the fact that he is an immigrant more than his religion when he ran for the Senate. He immigrated to the U.S. from Bangladesh in 1981.<\/p>\n
\u201cI campaigned as an immigrant, it never really came to my mind that people would be voting for the first Muslim legislator,\u201d Rahman said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t even in the picture but it just happened to be and I\u2019m proud (to be Georgia\u2019s first Muslim legislator), but I don\u2019t look at it that way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI look at it as a Georgian, just like everybody else (and) just like every other immigrant who came to this country. I\u2019m a proud Muslim, but I\u2019m going to represent all because I\u2019d really rather keep my politics separate from my religion.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Rahman was sworn in with his colleagues Monday morning, there was also a separate ceremony for him featuring multiple religious leaders in the Senate chamber Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Rahman said he felt like swearing in to the Senate brought his family\u2019s story full circle. His father had been part of the independence movement in Bangladesh in the early 1970s and had served as a government official in that country. As civil war raged in that country, Rahman was kidnapped and made a prisoner of war when he was 13.<\/p>\n
He also said he felt his election sent a positive message to immigrants about what they can accomplish in Georgia.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorgia has a reputation as a rural state \u2026 but I think Georgia is a progressive state and Georgia is much better than people might think from outside (the state),\u201d he said. \u201cI think Georgia is an inclusive state. I\u2019ll be representing one of the most diverse district in the country and I feel good about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the American story.\u201d<\/p>\n