Rabat – South by Southwest officials have apologized to the Muslim Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad after she was denied registration at the festival in Austin, Texas on Saturday for wearing a hijab.
The organizers of South by Southwest, an annual set of film, interactive media, and music festivals that takes place in mid-March in Austin, Texas in the United States, were angered by their employer who asked Muhammad to remove her headscarf before she would be given credentials to get into the festival.
The American Olympian tweeted about the incident on Saturday afternoon.
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
She also tweeted that she was given the wrong ID badge, with her name misprinted on the badge.
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
Immediately after the tweets went viral, the officials of the festival released a statement, apologizing to the Muslim American fencer.
“It is not our policy that a hijab or any religious head covering be removed in order to pick up a SXSW badge,” the statement read.
“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,” they added.
