An Unveiled Felon
Sultaana Freeman (formerly Sandra Keller), the Florida woman suing the state to be allowed to wear a sack over her face for her driver’s license photograph, has previously posed for an unveiled government portrait—when she was arrested (and subsequently convicted) for battering a foster child.
UPDATE: A Florida local news site has more info on Freeman—and her husband, who also has a criminal record. (Hat tip: Tal G.)
Freeman apparently hides more than her face. Police reports show she covered the children’s bruises with Muslim garb, refused more than once for child care workers to check the children for injuries and told the foster children to lie about the bruises and broken bone. She pleaded guilty and served 18-months probation.
In another disturbing twist in this story, four years ago Freeman’s husband Mark was caught with fake IDs bearing his photograph and other people’s names. When asked about that, Freeman tried to hide behind a veil of secrecy. Illinois Police found the fake ID’s after they arrested Freeman for recklessly firing a gun while he was wearing his Muslim garb.
Police had to get a search warrant to enter his home for their investigation. He told them he could not let them in because they were not of the Muslim faith.
UPDATE: Reader ZBeeblebrox points out this revealing (no pun intended) list of driver’s identification rules in Islamic countries, from CNN:
Saudi Arabia: Women aren’t allowed to drive
Iran: Women wear a traditional chador, which does not cover the face.
Egypt: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
United Arab Emirates: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Oman: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Kuwait: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Qatar: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Bahrain: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Jordan: Women can drive if their faces are covered but do not cover their face in I.D. pictures