Woman Sues DMV To Wear Veil on License..

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*Sophia*

*Sophia*

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ORLANDO, Fla. (May 28) - Experts in Islamic law are being called to testify in the lawsuit of a Muslim woman fighting a state order to take off her veil for her driver's license photo.

Sultanna Freeman, 35, says Florida's insistence on photographing her face violates her religious rights.

``I don't unveil ... because it would be disobeying my Lord,'' Freeman testified Tuesday at the start of her non-jury trial.

Assistant Attorney General Jason Vail argued that having an easily identifiable photo on a driver's license is a matter of public safety.

``It's the primary method of identification in Florida and the nation,'' Vail said. ``I don't think there can be any doubt there is a public safety interest.''

Freeman's attorneys argue that state officials didn't care that she wore a veil in her Florida driver's license photo until after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, an allegation the state denies.

``This is about religious liberty. It's about whether this country is going to have religious diversity,'' said Howard Marks, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Both sides planned to call experts in Islamic law at the trial, which continues Wednesday. A copy of the Quran has been entered into evidence.

Freeman, a convert to Islam previously known as Sandra Kellar, wore her veil for the photo on the Florida driver's license she obtained after moving to the state in 2001.

Nine months later, she received a letter from the state warning that it would revoke her license unless she returned for a photo with her face uncovered.

Freeman claims her religious beliefs require her to keep her head and face covered out of modesty and that her faith prohibits her face from being photographed.

05/28/03 07:34 EDT


Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.
 
someone tell this freak that this is AMERICA and she MUST follow our LAWS. Imagine if i were to take a license pick with a mask covering my face? what would even be the purpose of having a picture license if you can see who the person is!!!! DUMB!!
 
OOhhhhh Kenny.....let's debate!!!

LOL!!!

The arguement is that she needs to have a form of photo id. She feels that she may be persecuted against because she's asked to remove her veil for the photo. What I'm wondering is why she can't have a non-photo form of id.

The basis of my question....there is a whole segment of society mainly in the Pa. area called Meninites and Amish who don't follow our state mandated laws. They believe the only laws they have to answer to are God's. As a result, they have no social security numbers, are not registered to vote, and because they believe having a picture taken of them will "capture" their soul, have no forms of photo id.

I know this because the bank I work for has branches in the Pa. area and there are times when Amish or Meninite people open accounts. I don't know what they use for i.d., or what exceptions are made for them, but the exceptions are there.

If the exceptions are made for these people, to be fair, exceptions should be made for people of other religious beliefs.
 
Kenny, if you wanna be honest, think of it this way.

The only peep originally here were the Native Americans who worshiped many gods.

Technically, unless there is Native American in your family history, we ALL bought our religion here.
 
KENNY GUIDO said:
Chuck, but i bet the AMISH dont drive!!! therefore, they dont need any license!!! ya dont need a license for a horse and buggy!
Click to expand...

That's true Kenny, but there are tons of thing that we use a driver's liscence and Social Security number for, like opening bank accounts. So if an exception is made for an Amish/Meninite person for something, because of their religion, shouldn't that exception hold true for other religions?
 
THIS IS A TOUCHY SUBJECT GUYS, ALTHOUGH I'M TEMPTED TO AGREE WITH THE REMOVAL OF HER VEIL IT IS STILL HER RELIGOUS RIGHT TO KEEP IT ON. I'M REALLY INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THIS TURNS OUT. BTW KENNY SHE ISNT A FREAK SHE IS A WOMEN WHO STAND BY HER BELIEF THEREFORE THAT MAKE HER MUCH MORE STRONGER THAN ALOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE.
 
She needs to have a talk with her "Lord" and learn how to follow rules so that she and us all can be safe around here you know?

-a n t o n i o
 
AHHHHHHH I'm torn on this too but if you read the article...she converted to this religion. My thoughts are this...if they allowed her to take the photo with the viel on in 2001...why change it now. In reality I KNOW its cuz of 9-11, but they are opening up another can of worms here so to speak.
 
Kenny, I have to agree with you on this one... this is AMERICA so it's our way or GOODBYE.

I love that we are Multicultured... believe me, but with everything, times change... and maybe it was the case before September 11th that she was allowed to keep her veil on (which I can't understand how that was allowed in the first place)... but the facts are the facts, this world has changed for the worse when it comes to the trust factor and she as well as her lord needs to understand that.

I just don't understand... people come here for freedom, yet... they still live as though their life needs to be dictated to them.

I respect her strength to follow her "rules", but OUR rules are that we have photo licenses of our FACES...

This is just my opinion.

Gina 😉
 
I am Muslim and it is a difficult subject. My personal feelings is to have a fellow woman take her photo. The reason for the photo is for the safety of her and also safety of others. Also any religion just as any belief is always interprited different. Having a judgement in her favor could lead to copy cat situations with other articles of clothing or even costume make-up.

What I do see coming is seeing how valid are her beliefs. They will asks questions like, do you go see movies? Do you own a TV set/internet access/newspapers. Basically it will be seeing if she only strict on her own face or is she generally weeding out all visual images.

And on the other side, we will most likely hear of others who altered their face for their beliefs as well.

Islam is not one way. Just like any faith people will adjust their faith with their lifestyle and social enviroment and their morals. This is not Islam ( the faith) vs DMV. This is one women's idea of a belief that is not accepted by a Agency in Florida.

It will be interesting case for America in general.
 
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