SXSW apologizes after ordering U.S. Olympic fencer to remove hijab
Source: USA Today
Ibtihaj Muhammad, who is poised to be the first U.S. Olympian to wear a hijab, said she was told to remove her headscarf for a security photo at the South by Southwest festival on Saturday and then was given a credential with an incorrect name.
Muhammad, who wears the hijab for religious purposes and has become a prominent U.S. athlete with sponsors such as Visa and American Airlines, tweeted the incident in disdain as she was forced to remove it.
The incident does not look good for SXSW, which prides itself on being an annual cultural showpiece in Austin, Texas. SXSW said in a public statement: "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.
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2016/03/12/sxsw-apologizes-team-usa-olympic-fencer-ibtihaj-muhammad-hijab/81709018/
She's one of the top sabreuses in the world, and a chance for us to medal in women's saber (we were shut out in London, after running the podium in Beijing).
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)one of the reasons she took up fencing was she could do it and stay dressed modestly including the hijab.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Zagunis won the gold in 2004 and 2008. Mohammed is on the right side of the screen. Holy crap Mohammed has a wicked stopcut.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,011 posts)So long as her face is not obscured, it should be fine.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)It is religious, not cultural.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)"The hijab is both a religious and cultural element of Islam." https://www.quora.com/Is-the-hijab-cultural-or-religious
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,011 posts)Thanks for the link.
The wearing of a hijab overlaps considerably with the muslim faith, but it is not synonymous with the faith.
Thus it is more cultural than faithful.
But as I said before, she has a right to her culture and as long as her face is not obscured it is fine for ID photos. Especially ID photos that are displayed for all to see.
Men (presumably), and probably mostly white men especially, do not have many circumstances where they have a right to dictate what women wear.
IronLionZion
(45,460 posts)people choose which customs to follow and we should respect that choice. And there are clothing requirements in the conservative traditions of Mormons, Mennonites, Orthodox Jews, Sikhs, etc.
Culture and faith are closely intertwined and often developed together through the history of humanity. Many cultural customs originated with somebody's spiritual beliefs and vice versa.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,011 posts)People are entitled to their cultural traditions so long as they don't interfere with other people or societal functioning.
You can wear a turban or a face tattooed Motorhead if you want to, for all I care.
But claiming extra rights on the basis of religion is just not on.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Oh how I wish it was, for my own sake. The best city in Texas is Houston, not that that's saying much...
(Sorry - stuck here and feeling sorry for myself. But the above is still true.)
Boomer
(4,168 posts)Over Austin?
I'm left speechless....
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Not that I'm really crazy about either.
Maybe Austin used to be better, but it's not now.
Recursion
(56,582 posts)It gets a bad rep but it's a great town in a lot of ways.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)There may be smaller towns that are better, but between Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston, Houston wins hands down.
I still wish I could get out of Texas.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)It gets mistaken for a low flying cloud at times thanks smog! LOL
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)The smog is mostly fixed, to cite one indicator.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Fix your highways
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Paladin
(28,265 posts)As a life-long Texan, I never thought I'd say that. But it's true. While so desperately (and hopelessly) trying to live up to that highly erroneous The Only Cool Place In Texas moniker, Austin let its roads and infrastructure go right into the toilet. Sad but true.
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)I hated Houston. Lived down in that area for a couple of years and just wanted to die. Austin is so much cooler with the people, has better weather, and the music scene is the best.
rockfordfile
(8,704 posts)The guy has given a lot of money to right wingers.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Maybe you are talking about a number of years ago.
I'm not saying Houston is good. In many ways I loathe it. I'm just saying it's the best available in Texas, and that Austin is way over-hyped. IMHO.
Lunabell
(6,089 posts)But they should fucking respect her.
Hissyspit
(45,788 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Recursion
(56,582 posts)She's female, and fences saber. She's a sabreuse.
She and Zagunis are two women who fence saber; they are sabreuses.
(To be more clear: the sport of fencing includes three weapons: foil, epee, and sabre. Most fencers learn foil first; some specialize to epee and sabre later.)
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)What's "SXSW"?
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Texans may swoop in and defend it, but I stand by that characterization.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Now explain "Ted Talks".
(Maybe I need to get out more)
snooper2
(30,151 posts)for a bit LIVE once or twice a year
They tend to pull a lot of SJW off the intertubes for a moment in time so their 3000 fans can see they are actually a living human being.
Action_Patrol
(845 posts)First week is Tech (your TED talks) and Film Festival. Second week is music and chaos.
marble falls
(57,112 posts)marble falls
(57,112 posts)and thats why I'm moving to Oregon.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)I'd like to do the same myself, if I could afford it and find a job.
marble falls
(57,112 posts)there is plenty of work, but that rent is high. We have our house here in Texas to sell so we feel pretty confident.