Muslim demands apology from Obama over seat snub

June 19, 2008|Associated Press

DETROIT - Barack Obama's campaign apologized yesterday to a Muslim woman, who said she and another woman were refused seats directly behind him - and in front of TV cameras - at a rally because they wear headscarves.

Hebba Aref said yesterday that she and Shimaa Abdelfadeel were among 20,000 supporters who gathered to see Obama on Monday night at Joe Louis Arena when the groups they were with were separately invited by Obama campaign volunteers to sit behind the podium. But Aref said the volunteers then told the groups that women wearing hijabs, the traditional Muslim headscarves, would not be invited after all.

Aref, a 25-year-old lawyer, said a member of her group was told by a volunteer that she could not invite Aref because of "a sensitive political climate."

Sitting elsewhere, she said it was difficult to accept Obama's message of unity among races. "As he's saying it, I'm thinking, 'Well, wait a minute, I was obviously . . . profiled and discriminated against an hour ago.' "

Bill Burton, Obama spokesman, 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 wants a direct apology from Obama, as well as invitations to sit behind him at a campaign event.

"He needs to take the matter seriously and send a strong message against any kind of discrimination," Aref said.

Presidential campaigns routinely invite audience members they believe will enhance the image their candidate wants to convey on TV to stand behind the candidate at rallies.

Aref was born in the United States to Egyptian immigrants.