Florida court upholds ban of Muslim womanâs veil in driverâs licence

Followup on a story we discussed last year. | DAYTONA BEACH (Florida) â A Muslim woman who, for religious reasons, wanted to wear a veil in her driverâs licence photo must follow a Florida law that requires a picture of her full face, a state appeals court ruled.
The Fifth District Court of Appeal upheld a 2003 ruling by an Orlando judge that Sultaana Freemanâs right to free exercise of religion would not be burdened by the photo requirement. âWe recognised the tension created as a result of choosing between following the dictates of oneâs religion and the mandates of secular law,â Appellate Judge Emerson R. Thompson Jr. wrote in Fridayâs opinion. âHowever, as long as the laws are neutral and generally applicable to the citizenry, they must be obeyed.â Freemanâs attorney, Howard Marks, said yesterday he was considering an appeal.
Posted by: Steve White 2005-09-08 |