Posted on 12/05/2005 5:37:52 AM PST by grjr21
Despite a policy allowing religious head coverings in driver's license photos, several Muslim women have complained that workers at the Motor Vehicle Commission required them to remove their head scarves or pull them back so that a substantial amount of hair is showing.
The agency responded by writing letters of apology and promising to redouble its efforts to make sure that employees apply guidelines on head coverings equally.
Sarah Elfayoumi, who went to have her photo taken at the Lodi office in October, said an employee had told her to take off her hijab, the head scarf that observant Muslim women wear as a sign of modesty and respect for God.
"Everyone in the room was watching, and it was incredibly embarrassing," she said.
The employee called a manager, who told Elfayoumi to take off the scarf or pull it back to expose a significant amount of her hair.
She went into a bathroom to try to pull back the scarf as little as possible while satisfying the agency workers, but they insisted that still more hair be visible, she said. The manager took her into his office, saying that he was not trying to be rude or disrespect her religion, but that he had to comply with the agency's rules, she said.
Elfayoumi went back into the bathroom.
"I cried hysterically as I was pushing my hijab back to show my hair," she said. "I felt so ashamed, and I felt defeated. My face was puffy, my eyes were red, and I couldn't stop crying. I walked out, completely embarrassed, knowing that everyone was looking at me and knew what was going on."
Elfayoumi sat for a picture with much of her hair showing, then covered it back up as soon as the photo was taken.
"Not only was this an offense to my religion, but I was also stripped of my dignity," she said.
Sharon Harrington, chairwoman of the Motor Vehicle Commission, said the incident should not have happened. She said similar incidents had occurred from time to time, particularly in North Jersey, where there is a large Muslim population.
"We do require your face be obvious, but for religious or medical reasons we will allow a person to wear a head covering," she said.
Agency officials met with managers of the 45 offices last week to remind them of the policy, which also applies to members of other religions.
Samia Abdallah of New Milford said she had a similar run-in with workers at the Englewood motor-vehicles office.
"The people taking my picture kept telling me, 'Pull back your scarf,' " she said. "I pulled it back a little, but he said, 'No, more.' I said, 'Don't you know I'm covered? I'm a Muslim. I'm supposed to cover my hair.' "
She said she had relented and allowed her photo to be taken with a significant amount of her hair showing.
Muslim garb in driver's license photos has been an issue in other states as well. A Florida woman's insistence on wearing a full facial veil in her photo was rejected in September by an appellate court.
Mohamed Younes, president of the American Muslim Union, based in Totowa, said Muslim women should not have to choose between their religion and a driver's license they need to work and to care for their families.
"It's not to hide her identity. It is just to cover her head modestly for religious purposes," he said. "Other religions show the same respect for God."
Gives me a nice warm fuzzy.
...and in Saudi Arabia she would be in serious trouble if she tried to drive.
Mussies don't like it....then move to France!
"Not only was this an offense to my religion, but I was also stripped of my dignity," she said."
If you don't like the culture and laws here, go somewhere else. You'd probably be more comfortable in Iran.
Normally I'd have very little sympathy for these complaints, but after the HORRENDOUS treatment my daughter received at the Bayonne MV office, I don't blame these women. The people at MV treated my kid as though she was some kind of white collar criminal, all she was trying to do was get a replacement license, and there was a small tear in her (20 year old) birth certificate. They tried to reject this document. Luckily I wasn't with her or I'd probably be posting this from prison while I served out my sentence for assualt.
I wrote a letter and got an apology, but there was no need for any of it.
I don't remember ever having courteous treatment from a government employee.
Next time take a ride and go to a MV place farther west. Randolph would be a good choice...
apples to oranges ...
If you're unable to abide by these rules, don't drive.
If you don't intend to assimilate, we should deport you.
It is not apples to oranges I believe. There are two issues here..behavior of governement employees and the rules of license photos. We are not condoning a complete head covering that does not show the face. However, we do condone religious head coverings such as Jewish head coverings.or a nun's habit.
this could have been handled differently all the way around.
I suspect one solution, better expressed than demanding the government lessen its requirements, is for the husband to live up to higher requirements placed on his family.
This isn't too high a price for family;s like Cousin It's dreamgirl,.... hubba,..hubba...
Wasn't there a similar incident in FL? Or the one in FL was even worse, where the woman wore something like burka?
So the photo should soundly establish this.
Similarly, one may not be given a state-issued form of identification unless one plays by the rules governing the issuance of the ID.
No one has said she may not drive. But if you want to drive, you'll need to have a clearly identifiable self image on your license.
This can be justified in a number of ways. But at the end of the day, I agree very strongly with the posters above stating that either you want to assimilate, or you don't. If you don't, go somewhere else.
Also, what is the thought process of a person who is going to the DMV to get a drivers license with their face completely covered? In spite of their religious convictions, don't they have to be laughing at themself just a little. C'mon!
Yes. The stupid mooslim tart wanted to cover her entire face save the eyes.
BUMP!
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