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Muslim Woman Sues over Drivers License [FL: Show your face on driver license photo; FL Woman: No]
The Orlando Sentinel ^ | Jan. 30, 2002 | P. Gutierrez and A. Rippel

Posted on 01/29/2002 11:01:29 PM PST by summer

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.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: braad
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Comment #101 Removed by Moderator

Comment #102 Removed by Moderator

To: timestax
"WTF is going on with those islamic muslums??!!"

terrorism

103 posted on 01/30/2002 1:09:14 AM PST by TaxPayer2000
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To: summer
"Sultaana Freeman, a former evangelist preacher who converted to Islam about five years ago and wears the traditional niqab..."

"Former evangelist preachers" (whatever that really means; HORRIBLE syntax.............where's this person's editor???) don't "convert" to Islam. This tells me all I need to know about this twit; she's a total flake. Bank on it.

104 posted on 01/30/2002 1:10:17 AM PST by RightOnline
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To: My back yard
Exactly. : - )
105 posted on 01/30/2002 1:11:13 AM PST by nopardons
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To: Buckeroo
The whole world is not against Muslims. Only your persective.

That's right Bucky, and don't you forget it.

106 posted on 01/30/2002 1:11:22 AM PST by Mark17
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To: Yehuda
I would like to see his face when I tell him I would fight him to the death rather than convert to Islam.

LOL, I would too, just don't tell Bucky that.

107 posted on 01/30/2002 1:12:53 AM PST by Mark17
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To: WindRiverShoshoni
they have a right to Free Exercise in their religion

Fine with me. But they do not have a right to drive a car without following the laws of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Those veils can be a serious obstruction to vision.

Islamic countries deal with this by not allowing women to drive.

108 posted on 01/30/2002 1:14:36 AM PST by Alouette
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Comment #109 Removed by Moderator

To: mvpel
So since when does the State get to license the right to travel freely on the public roadways in one's private property on personal business? That's the underlying question here.

operating a motor vehicle on public roads is a PRIVELEDGE not a right

110 posted on 01/30/2002 1:16:42 AM PST by TaxPayer2000
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Comment #111 Removed by Moderator

To: summer
"I don't show my face to strangers or unrelated males,"

And I don't give my fingerprints unless I'm charged with a crime but the DMV in Texas requires that I let them scan my fingers (with no release on how they will later use this data or why it is needed).

ACLU lawyer Howard Marks argues that the law is vague. Ah yes, the ACLooney steps in to see that common sense, fair play, reason, and the law are all ignored so this woman doesn't feel "threatened".

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. "

If she were to live under an Islamic state, she may be prohibited from driving altogether. So much for adhering to the tenants of her religion. She's just another fashion victim having a hard time learning to cope.

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.

I guess that DMV photographers are blind as a bat and that explains the photos we all get on our licenses.

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

Some Indian tribes (=non-PC talk for Native Americans) are rumored to believe that photos steal the soul (and I think even some followers of Islam prohibit images of living things). Do these regious believers get to have licenses without pictures (photographic or otherwise)?

112 posted on 01/30/2002 1:19:42 AM PST by weegee
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To: GeronL
My religion forbids me from giving the government any information about me, my family, my finances and also forbids me from paying taxes and obeying the law.

If your religion also forbids the public speaking of Dash-hole and Little Dickie Gephart, sign me up!

113 posted on 01/30/2002 1:20:53 AM PST by zandtar
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To: Mark17
Yes and I've had it with the ACLU! They are one organization that is a huge part of this country falling to pieces!!
I'll be watching this one closely as I hope that the state doesn't cave in to these stupid demands.
114 posted on 01/30/2002 1:21:56 AM PST by StayoutdaBushesWay
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To: BrooklynGOP
Well, then why did she move to US? She knew well ahead that this is not an islamic state.

I don't think she moved here, it appears that she denounced Jesus for Allah and Mohommed.

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.

115 posted on 01/30/2002 1:22:00 AM PST by weegee
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Comment #116 Removed by Moderator

To: GeronL
My religion forbids me from giving the government any information about me, my family, my finances and also forbids me from paying taxes and obeying the law.

Well, I was thinking of starting a religion anyways... wanna join?

What a coincidence! Mine does too (although these aren't necessarily the same religions)!

What about muslims that reject "man's law" and can only be tried in an "Islamic court" under Allah's laws?

See, the concept isn't so unusual after all (this was the pitch that we heard from the muddle east before we started bombing after 9/11, the prisoners and suspects need to be tried in Islamic courts under Islamic law and not in America under man's law).

117 posted on 01/30/2002 1:27:32 AM PST by weegee
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Comment #118 Removed by Moderator

Comment #119 Removed by Moderator

To: WindRiverShoshoni
Yoooooo hoooooooooo ... I AM A WOMAN , and I am NOT " intimidated " by anything, nor anyone.

Those, who wear that all over thingy ( called a burka [sp ?] in Afghanistan ! ) is a hazard, if worn to drive in. It is also defeating the entire purpose of a driver's licence, which requires a picture on it.

That , most assurredly is NOT becoming " usual " wear, for American converts. The head scarf ( whatever they call it ) has been COMMON amongst Nation of Islam converts, for about 7 decadaes. All other American conversions, to Islam, is of a quite later / more recent vintage. And, BTW, females , of the Muslim faith, who are members of our armed forces, do NOT get to wear any Islamic style head covering, while on duty. Isn't that interesting ?

No, there aren't " mysteries " concerning Sharia , that I am unfamiliar with. I just didn't think that it was necessary for me to type ALL of the various Islamic codes and practices , for women, out. But, since you might be unfamiliar with ALL of them, go look them up. : - )

Since you have chosen to ridicule a sacred / holy Christian ( and no, I a NOT one of FR's BIble thumpers ) rite, I suggest that you apologise; IMMEDIATELEY , newbie. You so liked to hassle someoene over their " new " status, as an American , it is only meet and right, for YOU, newbie, to ne hassled over your VERY new arrival in FR ; newbie !

120 posted on 01/30/2002 1:31:41 AM PST by nopardons
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