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Obama Campaign Apologizes Over Refusal To Seat Muslim Women In TV View

By Howard M. Friedman

The Barack Obama campaign has apologized to two Muslim women after campaign volunteers refused to seat the women, who were wearing Muslim headscarves, directly behind Obama at a Detroit rally on Monday. Staffers generally pick those who will sit behind the podium, and who will therefore be seen on television in the background as the candidate speaks. CBS News reported yesterday that in both cases, friends of the Muslim women were invited into the special seating, but the women were excluded. One volunteer cited the political climate as the reason that 25-year old lawyer Hebba Aref was not placed where she would be seen while Obama spoke. In the other case, Shimaa Abdelfadeel was told no one could wear a head covering of any kind in the special seats.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 19, 2008 (boomark / email).