She’s a US Olympian, a world champion fencer and she was born in New Jersey – but yesterday, while at a conference she was speaking at, Ibtihaj Muhammad was asked, repeatedly, to remove her hijab for a security photo.
*THE LIST: Hijab wearing fashionistas you NEED to follow on Insta*
The USA Fencing Team member tweeted that she was asked to remove her hijab (which she even wears while fencing) in order to take a security photo while at film, music and culture festival South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.
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
But it looks like, in an awesome move, Muhammad stood her ground (#girlpower), as the final photo of her security badge shows off her chic grey hijab:
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
That said, they did get her name and her organization wrong in the final ID.
Ibtihaj – is a fencer, and quite the fashionista too!
The culture festival is clearly embarrassed by the move: “It is not our policy that a hijab or any religious head covering be removed in order to pick up a SXSW badge,” said the festival in a statement to the Chicago Tribune. “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.”
*IN PICS: Sheikha Moza’s best fashion moments*
Ibtihaj in action.
Just to note, a woman can wear a hijab in all ID pictures, even in a US passport photo, so this volunteer was definitely stepping out of line.
– Photos: Getty Images
