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sgtrock21
Senior MemberPosts: 1,933 Senior Member
Texas festival apologizes after Muslim Olympian told to remove hijab
sgtrock21
Senior MemberPosts: 1,933 Senior Member
Organizers of the South by Southwest (SXSW) arts festival said on Sunday they apologized to U.S. Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad after a volunteer said she must remove her Muslim headcovering to receive credentials to the event in Austin, Texas.
The Olympic fencer was picking up an identification badge at the interactive, film and music event on Saturday when a volunteer told her she must take off her hijab before her photograph could be taken.
"Even after I explained it was for religious reasons, he insisted I had to remove my hijab," she said on Twitter.
SXSW organizers said on Sunday in an email to Reuters that they have since removed the volunteer for the duration of the event.
"We are embarrassed by this and have apologized to Ibtihaj in person, and sincerely regret this incident," SXSW said in the statement.
Muhammad, 30, will make history in Rio de Janeiro as the first Olympian to represent the United States wearing a hijab. Muhammad has become an outspoken critic of presidential candidate Donald Trump, who called for a ban on Muslims from entering the United States.
"I feel like I owe it to people who look like me to speak out," Muhammad told reporters on Wednesday. "When I hear someone say something like, 'We're going to send Muslims back to their countries,' I say, 'Well, I'm American. Where am I going to go?"
After the incident was resolved at the event, Muhammad said that she was issued the wrong identification.
"I was given the wrong ID! From now on my name is Tamir & I work for Time Warner Inc" she tweeted. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Frank McGurty and Andrew Hay)
My comment:
This is not a big deal to me because of the venue. But is a big deal in the real world.
9 years ago I accompanied my ex-Wife in her credit union. The teller asked me to remove my hat. Of course I did without knowing why. It suddenly dawned on me. Security photos of bank robbers on the news nearly always shows them wearing hats, hoodies, and sometimes sunglasses. When a description of a criminal suspect is given on the news it includes (if known) hair color and length. Although I have never been asked to remove my hat in my bank I have for 9 years left it in the car. I just now checked to be sure. My drivers license, retired military ID, and US passport have hatless photos. If this is such a personal problem Miss Muhammad should immigrate to Saudi Arabia. Drivers license photo? Not allowed to drive. Military ID photo? Not allowed to serve. Passport photo? Not allowed to travel alone. Problem solved.
The Olympic fencer was picking up an identification badge at the interactive, film and music event on Saturday when a volunteer told her she must take off her hijab before her photograph could be taken.
"Even after I explained it was for religious reasons, he insisted I had to remove my hijab," she said on Twitter.
SXSW organizers said on Sunday in an email to Reuters that they have since removed the volunteer for the duration of the event.
"We are embarrassed by this and have apologized to Ibtihaj in person, and sincerely regret this incident," SXSW said in the statement.
Muhammad, 30, will make history in Rio de Janeiro as the first Olympian to represent the United States wearing a hijab. Muhammad has become an outspoken critic of presidential candidate Donald Trump, who called for a ban on Muslims from entering the United States.
"I feel like I owe it to people who look like me to speak out," Muhammad told reporters on Wednesday. "When I hear someone say something like, 'We're going to send Muslims back to their countries,' I say, 'Well, I'm American. Where am I going to go?"
After the incident was resolved at the event, Muhammad said that she was issued the wrong identification.
"I was given the wrong ID! From now on my name is Tamir & I work for Time Warner Inc" she tweeted. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Frank McGurty and Andrew Hay)
My comment:
This is not a big deal to me because of the venue. But is a big deal in the real world.
9 years ago I accompanied my ex-Wife in her credit union. The teller asked me to remove my hat. Of course I did without knowing why. It suddenly dawned on me. Security photos of bank robbers on the news nearly always shows them wearing hats, hoodies, and sometimes sunglasses. When a description of a criminal suspect is given on the news it includes (if known) hair color and length. Although I have never been asked to remove my hat in my bank I have for 9 years left it in the car. I just now checked to be sure. My drivers license, retired military ID, and US passport have hatless photos. If this is such a personal problem Miss Muhammad should immigrate to Saudi Arabia. Drivers license photo? Not allowed to drive. Military ID photo? Not allowed to serve. Passport photo? Not allowed to travel alone. Problem solved.
Replies
Great idea. Women aren't known to change their hair color.
It's Red, White and Blue son.
Nope. Not at the hairdresser's or at home with an easily acquired DIY kit.
We don't have an entire aisle dedicated to just such a practice either.
George Carlin
...and get the hell out of my town. These hipster tourists are driving me nuts
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
(NOT HERE!!)
LOL.
I just want to start walking up to them and say "It's 90 degrees today. Black skinny jeans, flannel shirt and a knit scarf are not needed."
-Mikhail Kalashnikov
See the bolded bit, it's a personal problem? It's a religious belief. You know freedom of religion etc. all that boring stuff that is before the 2nd amendment, unless you believe that it only applies to WASP's, which some do.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
I'm all for religious freedom, but this another issue. When your religion gets in the way of the Constitution and the safety of others, something needs to give. And it's not the law.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
The hijab is a sign of faith and modesty. It is like asking a Christian woman to take the cross off from around her neck and unbuttoning her blouse a bit more to show some cleavage (you know, so we can identify her better).
https://www.google.com/search?q=lady+gaga&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgtrvH5cDLAhUMNiYKHcWPAfkQ_AUICCgC&biw=1280&bih=691
What the hell does the Constitution have to do with her not removing her hijab? As a matter of fact. the Constitution supports her NOT removing it....it's that pesky First Amendment and "Impeding the free exercise of religion" thing.
Another noteworthy thing...As far as Drivers Licensees and IDs are concerned...Texas is one of 7 states that do not view religious headwear as an exception that need to be addressed, but as a normal variation that is recognized and respected.
You missed my point big time. What about the rest of us that have no excuse and have to remove our hats and scarfs?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
If I've ever seen someone making a mountain out of a mole hill....this is it...
It's something called equal treatment. Why are muslimes special?
They aren't 'special'. The hijab is a requirement of their religion and lack of same is often viewed as an affront to God himself as well as a punishable offense in their custom.
Incidentally, we're talking about an "ID" that is more or less akin to a backstage pass...SXSW can have-or not have-whatever requirements they deem necessary. And, enforce those requirements as they see fit.
George Carlin
George Carlin
And that's the point. They won't let us do that, but if you're Muslim it's ok. You've hear of equal treatment
of the law?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Exactly and I don't care if their religion says different. If the law says that I need to take my hat off for an ID picture and I say my religion says I have to wear my cowboy hat all the time in public it's the same thing. But just see how far you or I get. Everybody else's religion has to go by the law. Why not theirs?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Equal is not fair, fair is not equal. Two different things. Treating everybody equally means we could all be required to wear a hijab for pictures. Treating everybody fairly takes our differences into account, realizing that there WILL BE differences...
It's actually a pretty simple concept.
George Carlin
Start up a church that requires cowboy hats and you can wear that sucker til the cows come home....This isn't just abut Muslims...do you get equally wound up about Jews and Sikhs? they get to wear hats too...
Oh yeah? If the law requires you to remove your hat when you get an ID pic taken see how that works?
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.