Obama apologises to snubbed headscarf women

Barack Obama has personally apologised to two Detroit-area women who were barred from sitting behind him during a campaign rally because they wore Islamic headscarves.

The Democratic presidential candidate has released a statement saying he has “reached out” to the women, Shimaa Abdelfadeel and Hebba Aref.

He said: “I spoke with Ms Abdelfadeel, and expressed my deepest apologies for the incident that occurred with volunteers at the event in Detroit.”

Ms Aref said that Obama campaign volunteers had invited them to sit behind the podium during a rally Monday for the Illinois senator at Joe Louis Arena.

But she said they were told that women wearing hijabs, the traditional Muslim head scarves, couldn’t sit behind the podium – and in front of TV cameras.