In an embarrassing incident to Barrack Hussein Obama, two young Muslim women have alleged that they were refused seats directly behind the US Democratic presidential candidate.
Reason? Hebba Aref and Shimaa Abdelfadeel and say they were wearing headscarves.
The volunteers of the campaign at Joe Louis Arena apparently did not want the young women's faces with scarves to be photographed -- or telecast -- alongside the same frame with Obama. Obama incidentally carries a Muslim middle name -- of his adopted father's.
Aref, a 25-year-old lawyer, said the volunteers told that women wearing headscarves had not been invited and hence couldn't sit behind the podium.
Aref also said the volunteers told her that she could not invite Aref because of "a sensitive political climate".
In a quick damage-control measure, Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement that said: "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 behaviour."
