Obama camp apologizes for Muslim incident

DETROIT, June 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's campaign apologized Wednesday for asking Muslim women not to stand or sit behind the candidate at a rally.

At a rally this week in Detroit, some attendees were asked by some volunteers not to appear behind the Illinois senator amid concerns that the appearance of traditional Muslim dress in published and broadcast visuals of the events could damage Obama, The Detroit News reported.

"This is of course not the policy of the campaign," spokesman Bill Burton said. "It is offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run."

Sharif Aref, a law student at the University of Detroit-Mercy, said the incident occurred when he and friends attending the rally Monday were invited to stand behind Obama on the stage.

"We said OK, but that we had to bring my sister with us," Aref said. "But, when we told the woman that my sister had a head scarf, she was immediately denied and we were told she was not allowed to come sit there."

Aref said another friend called from outside the event to say she also was approached by an Obama volunteer and told she could stand behind the candidate, but only if she removed her scarf.