More than 20,000 people attended Barack Obama’s rally at Joe Louis Arena on June 16, and most of them went home happy.

But two Muslim women went home confused and angry after they were asked to move from view of the camera at the rally.

Hebba Aref, a University of Michigan graduate and lawyer, was told by a volunteer that she had to move because of her hijab. Shmaa Abdelfadeel, also a University of Michigan graduate who works at the school’s Multi-Ethics Affairs Office, was told she could sit in the special section if she removed her scarf but refused to do so. Abdelfadeel couldn’t be reached for comments.

In the case of Aref, she waited for about three or four hours to get a good seat for the event. Her brother and some non-Muslim friends were approached by Obama volunteers and told they could sit behind Obama and be on camera.

They asked if his sister looked similar to him by the volunteers and he said yes, but added that she was wearing a scarf. He called his sister to come down but she was not allowed because of the belief that people in the current political climate would look down upon Obama if he were seen with Muslim women with head scarves, according to Aref’s mother Neveen.

The non-Muslim friends and her brother refused to sit behind Obama after the incident and joined Hebba Aref.

Hebba Aref was proud of them for standing by her, but still hurt by the incident.

“She was really upset, she didn’t want to talk about it,” said Neveen Aref.

“We feel that we should be treated better than that. We tried to call Obama’s campaign because she was very upset, and she sent them a letter.”

Obama’s representatives apologized to Hebba Aref, but the Aref family still wanted a personal apology and an invitation to sit behind Obama at another one of his events. Neveen Aref compared the incident to Obama calling a reporter “sweety,” after which Obama issued a personal apology, and said what happened to her daughter was worse and also deserving of a personal apology.

Representatives from the Obama camp responded in a statement to the media via e-mail.

“This is of course not the policy of the campaign.  It is offensive and counter to Obama’s commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run.  We sincerely apologize for the behavior of these volunteers,” said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

The Aref family has continued to pledge their support for Obama and said they didn’t think he had anything to do with the incident personally.

Even so, the family is still shaken by the incident.

“We work so hard to make these kids proud of themselves,” said Neveen Aref. “We paid a lot of money and time raising them up properly and tried to teach them right and to educate them.

“Of my three kids, one is a doctor, one is a lawyer, and the other is in law school. What can we do better than that?”

Obama’s representatives apologized to Hebba Aref, but the Aref family still wanted a personal apology.

At press time, it was learned that they got at least one part of their wish. Barack Obama released a statement to the media confirming that he apologized to both Aref and Abdelfadeel personally.

“I reached out to Ms. Aref and Ms. Abdelfadeel this afternoon (June 19).  I spoke with Ms. Abdelfadeel, and expressed my deepest apologies for the incident that occurred with volunteers at the event in Detroit,” said Obama. “The actions of these volunteers were unacceptable and in no way reflect any policy of my campaign.  I take deepest offense to and will continue to fight against discrimination against people of any religious group or background. Our campaign is about bringing people together, and I’m grateful that Ms. Abdelfadeel accepted our apology and I hope Ms. Aref and any who were offended accept my apology as well.”