DETROIT: A young Muslim woman said she and another woman were refused seats directly behind Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama — and in front of TV cameras — at a Detroit rally because they wear head scarves.
Hebba Aref said yesterday that she and Shimaa Abdelfadeel were among 20,000 supporters who gathered to see Obama on Monday at the Joe Louis Arena when the groups they were with were separately invited by Obama campaign workers to sit behind the podium. But Aref said the campaign workers told members of both parties in separate discussions that women wearing hijabs weren’t included in the invitation and couldn’t sit behind the podium.
Aref, a 25-year-old lawyer, said a member of her group was told by a campaign worker that she could not invite Aref because of “a sensitive political climate.” Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement saying such actions are “not the policy of the campaign.”
“It is offensive and counter to Obama’s commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run. We sincerely apologize for this behavior,” the statement read.
Aref said she replied by thanking Burton, but requested Obama apologize directly to her and Abdelfadeel, as well as invitations to sit behind him at a future campaign event.
Obama spokeswoman Amy Brundage said she was looking into the request.
“He needs to take the matter seriously and send a strong message against any kind of discrimination,” Aref said.
Aref, who was born in the United States to Egyptian immigrants, said she had defended Obama during the primaries against a constant drumbeat of rumors that he was Muslim. Obama, a Christian, has said his grandfather was Muslim who converted to Christianity.
