By U.S. Olympic Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad was recently detained at the border, she told PopSugar at the MAKERS conference.
The 31-year-old Olympian was held at customs for two hours and then left the encounter in tears, according to Mail Online.
Muhammad was the first Muslim-American to win a medal for team U.S.A. after she brought home a Bronze for the team round in Sabre Fencing and also the first U.S. Olympian to wear a hijab.
When asked about effects from Trump’s recent Muslim Travel Ban, Muhammad gave PopSugar some emboldening words:
“Well, I personally was held at customs for two hours just a few weeks ago. I don’t know why,” she said. “I can’t tell you why it happened to me, but I know that I’m Muslim. I have an Arabic name.”
Muhammad elucidated that the ban doesn’t discriminate based on actions or beliefs — the executive order solely preys on superficialities, like appearance:
“Even though I represent Team U.S.A. and I have that Olympic hardware, it doesn’t change how you look and how people perceive you. Unfortunately, I know that people talk about this having a lot to do with these seven countries in particular, but I think the net is cast a little bit wider than we know. And I’m included in that as a Muslim woman who wears a hijab.”
Despite her agitation with the situation, Muhammad plans on using her platform to stand up for the voiceless and effect change.
“I’m one of those people who feels like I have to be strong for those people who may not be able to find that strength. I feel like I have to speak up for those people whose voices go unheard,” she explained. “I try to remember to be positive and to try to leave all these situations, even if they may be very difficult, with love.”
She left the MAKERS panel alongside Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas with one short message: even minorities will find justice in the darkest of times.
“I think that we will come out on top as women, as people of color, as Muslims, as transgender people, as people who are part of the disabled community — I think that we’ll come out on top.”
…@ShehryarrKhan
WARNING! Narrative collapse has occurred! DO NOT be the last writer to correct this fake news story!
‘When asked about effects from Trump’s recent Muslim Travel Ban, Muhammad gave … some emboldening words: “Well, I personally was held at customs for two hours just a few weeks ago. I don’t know why,” she said.’
Muhammed herself noted several days after her interview that by “a few weeks ago” she meant in December 2016.
That’s right. This ‘anti-Trump narrative’ event occurred during the Obama presidency.
In other Muslim girl sports news, BBC reports that some Muslim girls in Iran were arrested and will be punished for attending a soccer match! No doubt the writers at this web site will be knocking each other over to be the first to voice their despair and outrage at this ‘Muslim Girl Soccer Spectator Ban.’