One State Now Allowing Muslims To Wear Burqas In Driver’s License Photos (Illinois)

Mad World News ^ | 8/21/2015 | Dom the Conservative

[SaraJohnson]

That will never happen. They can want it to happen and even order it to happen, but Sara will never wear a burka. They make my butt look big. : )

[IAMNO1]

You are either a moron, an imbecile or an idiot. Not sure which. It would take a battery of IQ tests to determine that and would be a big waste of someones valuable time as it wouldn't change a thing in your head. I quit reading your blather after so many incomprehensible sentences.

You seem to have a bug up your butt about two websites you keep referring to. Specifically:

“So you believe two websites that have zero credibility because they claim to reference the Illinois Secretary of State spokesman?”

I never defended these two websites. Never even read them. Not a single word. Why should I? Don't care about them at all. All I did was just find the Secretary of State's flier page on-line when I read all YOUR whining posts about how you couldn't find anything of the sort to back up the story and didn't believe it. And you made a bunch of stupid insulting comments directed at FReepers. I enjoy reading dumb people's posts and was instantly drawn to yours. I guess two brain cells weren't enough for you to do a successful web search and find what I found in just 2 minutes. It shows that IL is indeed allowing head coverings to be worn for Muslim women when getting their drivers licenses. That is enough proof for me. I don't give a rat's @ss about any other articles or websites or what insulting jerks like you think or have to say about it. Period.

[Ann de IL]

If you reread the quote of my post in your last message, you will see that I used a phrase “that I know of”. I did not say that it was the only one, just that it was the only one I knew of.

You, however, did not use such a qualifying phrase in stating that “each rest stop is identified as an oasis”

[Beave Meister]

Here’s another article from Newsmax.

http://www.newsmax.com/US/illinois-head-coverings-drivers-license/2015/08/14/id/670225/

[Beave Meister]

Here’s another article from Newsmax. Although this article centers on head covering, but it does mention women being asked to remove their head covering. Does a woman’s head covering refer to burqas? I believe so, I don’t believe Muslim women wear hats or turbans.

http://www.newsmax.com/US/illinois-head-coverings-drivers-license/2015/08/14/id/670225/

[IAMNO1]

While it was previously reported at some websites (I just googled them) that “Illinois DMV Deputy Press Secretary Henry Haupt confirmed to reporters that this would include the burqa and veil, as well as other religious coverings worn by Muslims and Sikhs.” (note that this refers to the “DMV”, which is not the case in IL, as it is the Secretary of State, so I'm dubious of the reporting), now it looks like it may be getting walked back by the Secretary of State. A couple sites are now showing this:

“H/t: NewsMax

Update (8-25-2015, 12:30pm EST): From the Deputy Press Secretary Haput:

Somewhere I am being misquoted as having said that burqas and veils may be worn by people when photographed for their Illinois driver’s license or ID card. Let me be clear: In Illinois, people are prohibited from wearing any article of clothing that covers their face when being photographed for a driver’s license or identification card.

While Illinois law does allow a person to wear a religious head covering when photographed for their driver’s license or identification card, it cannot cover the person’s face. This is because the photograph plays an integral part of identifying the holder of the driver’s license and identification card.

To clarify further with an example, a head scarf covering the hair of a customer would be allowed, but an article of clothing covering the entire face, except the eyes, would not be allowed.”

I don't see this walk-back, or the prior confirmation, anywhere but in these websites. The only relevant doc I've seen is the oft quoted S.O.S. Flier (which I referenced as well on FR), which leaves enough wiggle room to allow Burqas in at least two places. I suspect they'll reissue that Flier with clearer language, and should make it clear that religious head covering burqas or veils will not be allowed. One would hope.

[Osage Orange]

Oh...so, “Now, mea culpa, lord! I me repente.”

[IAMNO1]

“Oh...so, “Now, mea culpa, lord! I me repente.””

I suspect they were trying to have it both ways, but this is just too hot a topic to allow that. The fliers were intended to be mailed out to SOS employees reminding them that it is illegal to have customers remove their articles of faith, so they'll either have to reissue a new flier with clearer language regarding burqas or veils, or make it very clear in a cover letter. Or,...they'll just leave it the way it is because they are bureaucrats who probably don't care.