This is American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who will become the first U.S. athlete to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab at Rio in 2016.
U.S. Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad was asked to remove her hijab to register for SXSW
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
On Saturday she tweeted that she was asked to remove her hijab in order to register at South by Southwest, where she was participating in the panel “The New Church: Sport as Currency of American Life.”
I was just asked to remove my hijab at SXSW Registration for my ID badge.. I can't make this stuff up #SXSW2016
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) March 12, 2016
Even after I explained it was for religious reasons, he insisted I had to remove my hijab for the photo to receive my badge #SXSW2016
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) March 12, 2016
When she finally received her ID badge, it didn’t even have the right name on it.
Thennnnn I was given the wrong ID! From now on my name is Tamir & I work for Time Warner Inc #SXSW2016 pic.twitter.com/TE3jJR16P6
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) March 12, 2016
SXSW said in a statement that they were embarrassed by the incident and had apologized.
It is not our policy that a hijab or any religious head covering be removed in order to pick up a SXSW badge. This was one volunteer who made an insensitive request and that person has been removed for the duration of the event. We are embarrassed by this and have apologized to Ibtihaj in person, and sincerely regret this incident.“At least it looks like Muhammad was able to make her panel.
At #SXSW2016? Head over to the Four Seasons for my panel with @Rachel__Nichols at 5:00PM, "Sports as Currency of American Life"
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) March 12, 2016
#SXsports: "The New Church: Sport as Currency of American Life" on the power of sports as a tool for conversation. pic.twitter.com/GVUoNwdvjc
— Bridget Bonasoro (@bridgetbonasoro) March 12, 2016
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