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Politics : President Barack Obama -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sr K who wrote (24342)	6/19/2008 10:48:24 AM
From: ChinuSFO	Respond to of 149317

Unfortunately, religion continues to play an increasing role in our politics. The Christian evangelicals and the mullahs are to be blamed equally for such a trend. ================================= Mother reacts to Obama headscarf ban by Katie Fretland Neveen Aref didn't think her children would be treated differently in the Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills. She and her husband moved to the United States from Egypt seeking the freedom America promised. But on Monday, her daughter said she was discriminated against at the very place which she hoped would signify unity -- a Barack Obama rally. A campaign volunteer told a friend of Hebba Aref that she could not sit behind the podium where Obama spoke if she wore her hijab, a Muslim headscarf. The space behind the podium is generally filled with pre-screened people, because that space is seen during videos and photographs with the candidate. "What happened to [Hebba] is unfair," Neveen Aref said. "We are in 2008. Particularly coming from Obama, I think this ridiculous." "Hebba is a lawyer who graduated from one of the best top 10 schools in America," she said. "I raised her up well with her brothers. We left home because of the dream... to raise our kids in this community." "I think this is unfair," Aref said. "Unfair to her, unfair to everybody who is a minority." Aref said her daughter was upset when she returned from the rally. The family lost sleep over what happened, she said. Her daughter's friend, Ali Koussan, also told his family what happened at the rally. Koussan's mother, Lucille Koussan, of Dearborn, Mich., was in the stands at the rally when her son sent her a text message about what happened. At first she thought it was a joke. "I was definitely disappointed, as were my other sons," she said. "I personally believe that Sen. Obama wasn't aware of this particular situation. But I think they would like a personal confirmation that this was a deviated instance." For now, the families are keeping an open mind and waiting for the Obama campaign to make the next move. They received an apology from a campaign aide, but they hope for a personal apology to Hebba and a second woman who is reported to have also been banned from that seating area for wearing a headscarf. weblogs.baltimoresun.com