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Workers Bar Muslim Women From Obama Backdrop

Pair not allowed to sit behind candidate over headscarves; campaign apologizes

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2008 2:53 PM CDT

(Newser) – Two Muslim women were barred from sitting behind Barack Obama during a rally Monday, with campaign volunteers concerned about headscarves appearing on TV and in pictures, Politico reports. One woman was told the "political climate" made her presence problematic; another was told headwear of any kind was off-limits in the assiduously assembled backdrop.

“I felt like I was discriminated against by the very person who was supposed to be bringing this change,” said the woman given the political explanation—for which the campaign has apologized. “An apology from him personally would be better,” she added, but "… I think it would suffice to have an invitation to their next rally and have seats behind him and show up on TV.”

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., shakes hands before his speech at Kettering University in Flint, Mich., Monday, June 16, 2008. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally at Nissan Pavilion, Thursday, June 5, 2008 in Bristow, Va. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

A young Muslim said she and another woman were excluded by Obama campaign workers from sitting behind the podium, because they were wearing traditional Muslim head scarves. (AP Photo)

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. laughs with students at Wayne County Community College District Downriver Campus in Taylor, Mich., Tuesday, June 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Workers Bar Muslim Women From Obama Backdrop

Pair not allowed to sit behind candidate over headscarves; campaign apologizes

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