Muslim Woman Sues over Drivers License [FL: Show your face on driver license photo; FL Woman: No]

Muslim woman sues state over drivers license

By Pedro Ruz Gutierrez and Amy Rippel |
Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted January 30, 2002

WINTER PARK -- A 34-year-old woman is suing the state for suspending her Florida drivers license after she refused to have her photo taken without an Islamic veil.

Sultaana Freeman, a former evangelist preacher who converted to Islam about five years ago and wears the traditional niqab, says her religion doesn't allow her to show her face to strangers.

She filed suit earlier this month asking an Orange County judge to review her case.

"I don't show my face to strangers or unrelated males," Freeman said in an interview Tuesday at the office of her American Civil Liberties Union attorney. Only her emerald-green eyes and mascara showed through her veil.

The niqab is different from a hijab, or partial head covering, which doesn't hide the face and which some Muslim women wear for their drivers license photos.

Freeman, who is on an apparent collision course with the state, is bracing for a possible showdown on the fundamental freedoms of the U.S. Constitution.

"Florida law requires a full facial view of a person on their drivers license photo," said Robert Sanchez, a spokesman for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "We have no choice but to enforce it."

Florida law says license applicants shall be issued "a color photographic or digital imaged drivers license bearing a full-face photograph."

ACLU lawyer Howard Marks argues that the law is vague. "I don't think the state statutes mandate a photograph," he said.

Marks said he also will cling to a state law on religious freedom that states the "government shall not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion. "

Barry University Professor Robert Whorf said the state is probably within its right to ask for a full-facial photograph. "It makes common sense if the state of Florida were discriminating against her because of her religion; that would more likely be unconstitutional," he said. "If the state of Florida's rationale for insisting the veil not cover the face is for law-enforcement purposes that apply to everyone, then clearly the state of Florida is not discriminating against anyone for religious reasons."

To husband Abdul-Malik, also known as Mark Freeman, the state's action is an infringement on his and his wife's rights.

"It's a reflection of Sept. 11," said Abdul-Malik, 40, a 1980 Edgewater High School graduate and 1984 Florida State University graduate.

The Freemans said they only want recognition that their interpretation of Islam requires women to cover their faces.

Sultaana Freeman said she never had trouble in Illinois, where she worked as a civil engineer with the state's utilities company. That state, without objection, issued her license with a photo that showed only her eyes.

Her Florida license was issued with her face covered last February, but the state demanded a new photo without her veil in November. State record checks began after Sept. 11.

Altaf Ali, executive director of the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he knows of three other times Muslim women were refused Florida drivers licenses because of their headdresses. "I'm sure there's a lot more that's happening and not getting reported," he said.

Ali is asking the state to clarify its policy on religiously mandated clothes, and he wants the state to train employees about Muslim needs.

Yasmin Khan, 39, of West Palm Beachsaid she tangled with motor-vehicle officials when she was refused a drivers license in mid-December. Khan, a native of Trinidad and a Muslim, said she pulled her headdress back to her hairline -- as far as her religious beliefs would allow -- for the Dec. 17 photo but was told she needed to remove it completely. When she refused, she was denied a drivers license, she said.

"I decided to call anybody and everybody because I needed my license. I have kids, and I need to leave my home," she said.

Two days later, after getting help from local politicians, Khan was photographed with her hijab pulled back for her new drivers license.

In Daytona Beach earlier this month, Najat Tamim-Muhammad, 41, was refused a Florida identification card because she declined to remove her hijab.

Two years ago, Tamim-Muhammad, a native of Morocco, removed her headdress for the ID photo, but her husband said she did it only because she spoke no English and was unsure of her legal rights.

Idris Muhammad, her husband, said they plan to go back to the office to explain to a supervisor why she cannot remove the hijab. They hope to have the photo taken at that time.

"We understand the fear that comes with dealing with people you don't know or understand," he said. "In my opinion, it violates our equal rights under the law. Most people, when you sit down and explain why the women wear the hijab and the seriousness of not having it on, understand."

Amy C. Rippel can be reached at arippel@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5736. Pedro Ruz Gutierrez can be reached at pruz@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5620.

If they are that religious with the retarded costume and veil and all then they are not allowed to drive anyways. In places like Saudi (retarded) Arabia. Why should it be any different here?

Actually, the4 case I was thinking of, was in N.Y. ; so you are citing something else entirely. Hmmmmm ...

I doubt that this has much of anything at all to do with " oggling ". For the record, I don't like oggling, and LOATHE rude remarks . Getting back on topic ; the first woman, Mrs. Freeman, is a born citizen, who is using her new found religon, to try to bend the law; to suit her own purpose. Many female follewrs of Islam, do NOT wear that thingy. Some do , and they belong to stricter sects, which FORBID those women to drive, and I am quite certain, do other things, which Mrs. Freeman does do.

Now, dear, try to wiggle out of that. : - )

Only her emerald-green eyes and mascara showed through her veil.

Her eyes looked pretty heavily made-up, with not only mascara, but eyeliner and eyeshadow. Does the Koran allow eye makeup?

Exactly, it is not a substantial burden. Have a female take the picture, let her keep it private in her wallet, only bringing it out if law enforement needs to see it. Shouldn't have to if she is law-abiding in her driving. I would wager she might could even have a special female officer called on such an occasion. Take 15 minutes.

I guess that you don't know that the Fed Gov ( perhaps it was a State GOv ? well someone DID pass the law ) passed a law the forbids animal sacrifice ( for prctioners of Voudon / Voodoo ), and the unauthorized keeping of farm animals, in cities.

This may have been because of Voodoo practices down in Miami. There used to be articles in the Miami Herald describing Haitians sacrificing chickens, and other animals, at night and leaving them at traffic intersections or in the middle of the road. Since I stopped reading any newspapers a few years ago, I haven't kept up on the lastest and greatest. I have yet to come across this, but I also tend to avoid driving in those areas.

This Freeman girl is an American, too, and had a driver's license up north with a picture that didn't show her face to every Tom Dick and Harry at a grocery counter. Or does it just get under your skin when a woman doesn't want you to look at her? ....I don't think Ms. Freeman is cutting the heads off chickens, she's just tired of the ogling from crude dudes. Some thrive on it, some don't.

Yeah, driver's license pictures are soooo hot. Women, forget those Glamour Shots; you get your man going by simply showing him a snapshot courtesy of your state's driver's license bureau!

Right-o. If someone was to declare that it is against their religion to even have their picture taken? What? We can allow them to have no picture. Separation of Church and State means that this country has laws that uphold the law and order, not religions. If you want to be a citizen here, you have to follow our laws.. laws for everyone, equally.

No, as I recall, it was in either Brooklyn, or the Bronx ; one of the 5 boroghs, which comprise N.Y.C. ! Thankfully, I can and do read the N.Y. Post; a Conservative paper. : - )

"I don't think the state statutes mandate a photograph," he said. So, I guess Fla won't be participating in the NIC. I mean if a picture isn't required, by aclu standards, then how can we be forced to do bio-metrics. It's against my religion. Blackbird.

There's a federal law against selling uninspected meat to the public.

Strange as it sounds I think they did away with this a couple of years ago. From what I understand they only require companies to pass general safety standards, with no specific requirements of detailed meat inspection. Please correct me if I'm wrong about this.

However, the driver's license is a common means of identification and she would be required to show it every time she wrote a check and in many other common situations. At this point she would be substantially burdened.

A photo ID is a common means of ID, period -- be it a driver's license or some other state ID card. Driving on public roads is a privilege for those who agree to comply with the laws, not a right.

Unprovoked name calling ? Shame on you.

Getting a driver's liscence is a PRIVILEGE ; it is NOT a " right "! If she doesn't want her picture taken, with her face uncovered, fine ; she doesn't get the liscence ! It's really as easy as that. : - )

"I don't think I'd wear a frigging black Nazi SS uniform emblazoned with red swatikas on my arms."

But it would suit you perfectly. You should try it, with a little leather -- you'd feel right at home.

Forget leather, go with latex -- looks better and feels better. Or so I've heard.

Kinda like the people in this Thread -- letting this woman preserve her privacy from grocery store clerks is like beating you half to death, it appears.

Or she could use cash. At the grocery store, that is. A woman so conscious of maintaining her religious beliefs should be able to remember to hit the ATM before she checks out.

No, as I recall, it was in either Brooklyn, or the Bronx ; one of the 5 boroghs, which comprise N.Y.C. ! Thankfully, I can and do read the N.Y. Post; a Conservative paper. : - )

LOL.

Doesn't surprise me.

Can you imagine-- she gets on a plane with that ID, but who is it, really? Zero impact, since they will not make her remove the rag to board. Blackbird.

For a NEW COMMER ( member date : DECENBER 24, 2001 ) , you seem to be on an awfully high horse. Do be careful not to fall, and hurt yourself. : - )

Frankly, you seem to be thei only one, who is having PC attacks and looking for religious bias . I, for one, couldn't care less what her religion now is; she's quite likely to change it, yet again. : - )

As to the laws of the land, as well as state laws, if yu don't like them, then either try to get them LEGALLY changed, put up with them, or leave. Bleeding hearted, Messianic complexed, " HOLIER THAN THOU " sorts don't do too well here. Pick your arguements carefully. Ehy is this one so important to you ?

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