NY Rep. Anthony Weiner Now Engaged to Hillary Clinton Aide Huma Abedin

NY Rep. Anthony Weiner is now engaged to Huma Abedin, a Hillary Clinton aide. According to Newsday, Anthony Weiner proposed to her on May 23. The couple has not set a wedding date.

Born September 4, 1964, in Brooklyn, Anthony Weiner is a Democratic congressman representing the ninth district of New York (which includes parts of Queens and Brooklyn). He is a graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School and State University of New York Plattsburgh. He is also a former roommate of Jon Stewart. Anthony Weiner is known as one of the most demanding congressmen, often requiring around-the-clock devotion from his staff. He has also been accused of being verbally abusive to his staff.

In 2005, Anthony Weiner sought the Democratic nomination for the New York City mayoral race. After pushing for a run-off, he eventually conceded and threw his support to Fernando Ferrer. There were speculations that Sen. Schumer and then-Gov. Spitzer had pressured him to concede. In 2009, he announced that he would not run for mayor against Bloomberg.

Born in 1976, Huma Abedin is the daughter of a Islamic Indian father and a Pakistani mother. Her father is a scholar, her mother a professor. Huma Abedin has lived in both the United States and Saudi Arabia. She is a graduate of George Washington University. She has been working for Hillary Clinton since 1996 and is considered her right-hand woman. Huma Abedin was Hillary Clinton's traveling chief of staff during the Democratic primaries and serves as an aide to the now Secretary of State.

Anthony Weiner Now Engaged to Huma Abedin: Politics

Given that they became engaged May 23, it is interesting that Anthony Weiner waited until now to reveal the news. His Jewish-Muslim engagement may deflect his recent announcement not to run for mayor. The engagement of Anthony Weiner and Huma Abedin will likely be greeted with mixed reception, as orthodox Jews and traditionalist Muslims may not approve of an interfaith marriage. On the other hand, having Hillary Clinton's Muslim aide marry a Jewish congressman could change the dynamic of Israeli Palestinian negotiations.

Anthony Weiner has been critical in the past of comments made my Columbia University professors which he interpreted as anti-Semitic. He has also criticized the Human Rights Watch, the New York Times, and Amnesty International for being anti-Israel.

Anthony Weiner Now Engaged to Huma Abedin: Interfaith Marriages

Another high-profile interfaith marriage occurred between model Liz Hurley and Indian businessman Arun Nayar. Liz Hurley was accused of disrespecting Hindu traditions. According to Live Strong, Hindu traditionalists cited "295a of the Indian Penal Code" which prohibited a non-Hindu (Liz Hurley) from being married at a Hindu wedding ceremony.

Liz Hurley and Arun Nayar were legally married in England with a Church of England ceremony. The couple then had a second ceremony, the Hindu ceremony to honor his faith. The objections were two-fold: first, that she as a non-Hindu participated in a Hindu wedding ceremony, and second, that they had made a mockery of the Hindu faith by doing it after they had already been married in another religious ceremony. Yet neither the Hindu religion nor the Church of England itself directly prohibits someone from marrying outside the faith.

There are no known details on whether or not Anthony Weiner and Huna Abedin will have a Jewish or a Muslim wedding ceremony. It will be interesting to see how the wedding plans unfold.

Sources:

NY Rep. Weiner engaged to Hillary Clinton aide, Newsday

Liz Hurley's Interfaith Marriage Contested by Traditionalists, Live Strong