WASHINGTON – As American borders grow more hostile to Muslims, fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first female Muslim American to win medal for the United States in the Olympics, was recently detained at US Customs for two hours without explanation.
“I don’t know why,” she told the web site Popsugar during a speaking engagement at the MAKERS Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif, USA Today reported on Thursday, February 9.
“I can’t tell you why it happened to me, but I know that I’m Muslim. I have an Arabic name. And even though I represent Team USA and I have that Olympic hardware, it doesn’t change how you look and how people perceive you.”
Muhammad, who graduated from Duke, won bronze in team sabre at the Rio Olympics last year. She is the first American to compete in an Olympics wearing a hijab.
The incident followed President Trump’s executive order banning immigrants and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries.
“My human response is to cry because I was so sad and upset and disheartened — and just disappointed,” she said. “At the same time, 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.
“It was a really hard two hours, but at the same time, I made it home. I try to remember to be positive and to try to leave all these situations, even if they may be very difficult, with love. 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.”
Muhammad, a New Jersey native, has previously expressed her opposition to Trump’s policies.
“I feel like that’s a loaded question,” She said when asked about a question she might have for Trump.
“I’m not really sure how to answer that. It’s like, where do I start?”