Little Green Footballs - the photo ID that wasn’t

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the photo ID that wasn’t

Wed, Jan 30, 2002 at 3:34:55 pm PST

Today’s jaw-dropper: a Muslim woman is suing Florida for suspending her driver’s license after she refused to remove her face-covering veil for the photograph. The ACLU is handling her case. And CAIR, of course, is outraged that the state of Florida would actually expect a photo ID to be useful for identification.

"To take it off would be the equivalent of some other woman being forced to remove her blouse," said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Washington, D.C.-based Islamic advocacy group.

Amazingly, she was allowed to get two previous driver’s licenses, posing with a veil that revealed only her eyes.

Next time I have to renew my driver’s license I’m going to claim my religion requires me to wear Mickey Mouse ears and a scuba mask.

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11 comments

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John "Akatsukami" Braue Wed, Jan 30, 2002 2:03:42pm

Hmmm. Could we get some militantly atheist group to file an amicus curiae brief claiming that to allow her a photo ID with her veil on would be a violation of he 1st Amendment?

Robert Crawford Wed, Jan 30, 2002 2:21:22pm

It's a non-issue being inflated into a controversy by CAIR. Anyone remember seeing a list of religious judgements linked from someone's blog? The guys making the judgement -- who I believe were connected with the Saudis -- said that it's perfectly acceptable to have a picture taken for identification purposes.

CAIR doesn't (heh) care about the religious issues; they're trying to get special treatment for Muslims.

Craig Wed, Jan 30, 2002 3:29:18pm

"Akatsukami" isn't far off the mark. There is ample precedent for overriding religious practice where there is a "compelling state interest". Previous cases have upheld the right of the military to insist upon uniform (i.e., soldiers can't augment the uniform with yarmulkes or veils). Any decent lawyer ought to be able to argue a compelling state interest here.

dan Wed, Jan 30, 2002 3:34:34pm

what's amazing about cair is how clumsily they've presented themselves (and muslim-americans) since 9/11. if they represented me, i'd be cringing every time ibrahim "could i be more defensive and less reasonable?" hooper goes on tv.

Andrea Harris Wed, Jan 30, 2002 5:48:03pm

According to this article, the Muslim woman here in Florida who wants to force the state to let her get a driver's license with herself masked up like a ninja, Sultaana Freeman, is a "former evangelical preacher." Well, there's a hint as to why she's so full of b.s. (Sorry to all those sincere evangelical preachers out there who haven't changed to a cooler religion.) If this woman was not such an ignoramus on her own (current) religion, she'd know that her request is ridiculous.

skeptic Wed, Jan 30, 2002 9:27:47pm

I sometime wonder if CAIR is not really a bunch of radical, extremist anti-Muslim bigots out to discredit Islam.

I agree with Dan, if I was Muslim, I would not want CAIR to represent me. Those guys make Muslims look like helpless jerks who really, really, really need very special treatment.

Sean Wed, Jan 30, 2002 10:42:14pm

Oddly enough, she wouldn't be allowed to drive at all in militantly Islamic countries.

mmmmmmmmmm 'k Fri, Feb 1, 2002 6:28:53am

She can leave the veil on; it's alright with me.

She'll just have to take a cab to the next suicide bombing, 'cause she ain't getting a driver's license.

Phil Wed, Feb 6, 2002 4:09:53pm

I understand she has religious reasons for her stance, however this is America, not her home country. When I visited other countries I had to adapt to them via my dress or speaking their language. The same is true for her. She must adapt to our ways, not the other way around.

Megs Mon, May 20, 2002 12:21:41pm

I heard from a friend that the Florida court ruled on this case in favor of the "Muslim" woman and would like to write about it in my local paper. If anyone could post a url that had the case's outcome, I would be very grateful...

valerie eggers Mon, May 20, 2002 1:31:28pm

I would really like to know how this ultimately turned out. I also heard that the Muslim woman won and was allowed to take her picture with her face covered, and of course that she was issued a driver's license. If someone knows more about this issue please let me know.

As for me, I think her suit was absolutely over the edge. NO EXCEPTIONS should be made.