ON THE TRAIL

Detroit Free Press

June 19, 2008

A Muslim woman who was denied visible seats behind Barack Obama's stage at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Monday because she wore a head scarf said she deserved a personal apology from Obama. Hebba Aref, 25, and her friend, Shimaa Abdelfadeel, received apologies from the campaign Tuesday after they complained that they were not allowed to sit near the podium when campaign volunteers learned that they wear the traditional Muslim head garb called a hijab. "I've lived here practically my whole life, and never been treated that way. It's so ironic that it was at his rally; he obviously would not promote any discrimination at all," said Aref, a Bloomfield Hills, Mich., resident and graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. Aref said she was, "hoping for an apology from Sen. Obama himself. He needs to send a strong message this kind of discrimination won't be tolerated." Campaign spokesman Bill Burton told Politico.com that the actions by campaign workers were "offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run."