Posted on 03/05/2003 12:49:11 PM PST by xrp
Here's the forehead-slapper of the day: Oklahoma has decided to allow Muslim women to wear scarves while being photographed for green cards or license photos.
And get this: The decree comes from the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety [sic]!
Council on American-Islamic Relations admitted today that complaints from Muslims prompted the change.
In a letter to Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, the pandering bureaucrats said: "A head covering will be permitted, if the head covering does not obscure a full front view of the face, display any: logo; insignia, symbol, or regalia; word or words; letter, number, or character, or graphic design." So it's OK to hide part of the head.
The new guidelines will appear as a statutory change in Oklahoma Senate Bill 704, written by Republican state Sen. Owen Laughlin.
In a letter requested by CAIR, INS Residence and Status Branch Director Pearl Chang wrote: "Our policy does permit men and women who are required by their religious beliefs to cover their head and ears and to submit photos that do not conform to requirements of an uncovered head and visible right ear.
"The person must remain clearly identifiable from the photograph and should include a brief statement along with that photo explaining why it does not meet (the usual) requirements."
CAIR Board Member Mujeeb Cheema, an Oklahoma resident, said: "We appreciate the fact that Muslim women will not have to violate their religious beliefs when obtaining an Oklahoma driver's license or a green card. We hope that other states and government agencies will follow suit in providing explicit policy guidelines allowing religious attire of all faiths in official photographs."
A similar decision in Florida last year sparked outrage and disgust.
Oklahoma residents, be sure to tell your lawmakers and bureaucrats what you think of them. Or don't come crying to us when Osama bin Laden gives his ugly sister a one-way ticket to Tulsa.
Ok, don't you think you people are getting a little carried away? Yes, I know, Muslims are not well liked lately (and who can blame us?)... BUT no one is saying that for the purposes of these IDs you can wear a burka, a sheet, sunglasses and a rubber nose, a ski mask, or any of the other ridiculous suggestions made here.
I think the key point is that "the person must remain clearly identifiable." So yeah, maybe it's the equivalent of wearing a hat, but since when does a hat serve as an effective disguise? (Especially if the hat is part of the everyday attire of the person being identified?)
I'm not against inconveniencing Muslims for the sake of security, (as a matter of fact, I'm all for inconveniencing them a whole lot more, particularly in airports) but let's be honest here, aren't we being just a tad too touchy about this?
DITTO !!
what's wrong with that ? Many of us wear hats, so what's the big deal ; officers do not routinely request removal of your hat when comparing your license pic .
Such convenience no doubt comes in handy when purchasing copious amounts of volatile fertilizer housed in rental trucks, hijacking very large passenger planes, or plotting the demise of any number of gasoline storage tanks, factories, or municipal water supplies.
What a crock. The decision in Florida that sparked outrage, and is still in court I think, was regarding a woman (Islamic convert-lost soul seeking a cult type) wearing a Saudi type black veil that covered her completely except for her eyes.
This is trash reporting.
That said, I have mixed feelings regarding an additional "religious" exemptions for fundamentalists cults of any type.Did traditional Catholic Nuns recieve the same exemption? Did traditional Catholic Nuns drive cars?
My problem with the supposedly devout Islamic women is thier overt hypocracy in picking and choosing which of the tenants of the "religion" they claim to devoutly adhere too, they inconsistantly insist that the laws and regulations of the USA get bent to accomodate.
Are they even supposed to drive a vehicle IAW thier faith? This does not pass the smell test.
Agreed.
Did traditional Catholic Nuns recieve the same exemption?
I think that is a very valid question. Do they receive the same exemption? I'm quite sure that nuns are allowed to drive, that this is in no way in conflict with their vows (but what do I know about nuns... I could be wrong.) So what kind of picture is displayed on a nun's driver's license? Anyone know?
"So what kind of picture is displayed on a nun's driver's license? Anyone know?"
The thread is about an exemption for Islamic women to wear head coverings in drivers licence photos.Did or do traditional, extremely modest, habit wearing, Catholic Nuns recieve the same exemption?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.