Democrat Senator’s Internship Lists ‘Identify as a Muslim’ As Qualification - Newsweek
A paid internship promoted by Democratic Colorado State Senator Iman Jodeh lists identifying as Muslim among its qualifications for applicants, according to a now-deleted job posting.
The advertisement for the MENASA & Muslim Joint Legislative Caucus Legislative Intern Program says successful candidates will gain experience at the Colorado Capitol in the offices of Jodeh and State Representative Yara Zokaie.
Under "Qualifications," the first requirement states, "Identify as a Muslim and/or as Middle Eastern, North African, or South Asian," which forms the acronym for the group.
Applicants must also have a minimum 3.5 GPA and an interest in "policy, social change/justice, and the legislative process." The part-time internship includes a $1,000 stipend and runs during the 2027 legislative session.
Newsweek has contacted Jodeh, Zokaie and the Department of Justice for comment and is awaiting responses.
Jodeh is a Democrat representing Colorado's 29th Senate District in Arapahoe County. She is vice chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and also serves on the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee, according to the Colorado General Assembly. She is a first-generation American and lifelong resident of the district, according to her campaign website.
Her parents, Mohamad and Siham, immigrated to Colorado from Palestine in 1974. Her campaign biography says Jodeh is the first Muslim, first Arab woman, and first Palestinian elected to the Colorado Legislature.
Federal law prohibits covered employers from discriminating based on religion or national origin under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) says religious discrimination includes treating applicants unfavorably because of their religious beliefs.
The EEOC also says Title VII prohibits discriminatory job advertisements, including those expressing a preference for applicants of a particular national origin.
Colorado law likewise prohibits employment discrimination based on religion under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.
The latest advertisement is not the first time Jodeh has promoted an internship with identity-based qualifications. In November 2023, she advertised what she called the "second annual Arab or Muslim Legislative Internship" for the 2024 legislative session. That posting similarly sought applicants who identified as "Muslim or Arab."
Zokaie, a Democrat who has represented Colorado’s 52nd House District since January 2025, is a tax attorney and former Larimer County chief deputy assessor. She serves on the House Appropriations, Finance and Judiciary committees. Her campaign identifies her as a first-generation Iranian American.
Jodeh and Zokaie launched the Joint MENASA & Muslim Caucus in November 2024, saying it would advocate for Middle Eastern, North African, South Asian and Muslim communities and work to combat xenophobia and Islamophobia.
At the time, Jodeh said the caucus was intended to represent people from a range of religious backgrounds, not only Muslims. She specifically cited Sikh, Baháʼí, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, and Catholic communities and said people from the MENASA region were often identified primarily through religion.
The caucus was formed following Zokaie's election to the legislature. Jodeh had previously been a member of Colorado's Black Democratic Legislative Caucus.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
