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Muslim Woman Sues to Wear Veil for License
A Muslim woman suing to keep her veil on for her driver's license photo took the stand Tuesday, saying Florida's insistence on photographing her face violates her religious rights."I don't unveil ... because it would be disobeying my Lord," said Sultaana Freeman, 35. The Saudis seem to believe that the Prophet wouldn't allow women to drive. So they don't allow it. Since they seem to be the experts of all things Islam, why should this woman even need a drivers license if she's so concerned with "disobeying my lord"? If fear of disobeying her lord is her main concern, then she should not be driving. Ladies and gentleman, I rest my case... Both sides planned to call experts in Islamic law at the nonjury trial, which was to continue Wednesday. A copy of the Quran was entered into evidence. Experts in Islamic law. That should be good for a few laughs. A nonjury trial is a smart move. A jury would broom her in about five minutes. Best to go judge shopping for a good liberal who'll buy a sob story. Freeman, a convert to Islam previously known as Sandra Kellar, wore her veil for the photo on the Florida driver's license she obtained after moving to the state in 2001. Nine months later, she received a letter from the state warning that it would revoke her license unless she returned for a photo with her face uncovered. Freeman claims her religious beliefs require her to keep her head and face covered out of modesty and that her faith prohibits her face from being photographed. There's a picture of her at the link. If she drives with that thing on she might be dangerous because it looks like she'd have zero peripheral vision. Her attorneys argued that state officials didn't care that she wore a veil in the photo until after the Sept. 11 attacks, an allegation the state denies. "This is about religious liberty. It's about whether this country is going to have religious diversity," said Howard Marks, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!! Assistant Attorney General Jason Vail argued that having an easily identifiable photo on a driver's license is a matter of public safety. "It's the primary method of identification in Florida and the nation," Vail said. "I don't think there can be any doubt there is a public safety interest." If she wins this, the floodgates are open.
Posted by: tu3031 2003-05-28 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=14802 |