ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- Experts in Islamic law are being called to testify in the lawsuit of a Muslim woman fighting a state order to take off her veil for her driver's license photo.
Sultanna Freeman, 35, says Florida's insistence on photographing her face violates her religious rights.
"I don't unveil ... because it would be disobeying my Lord," Freeman testified Tuesday at the start of her non-jury trial.
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."
Freeman's attorneys argue that state officials didn't care that she wore a veil in her Florida driver's license photo until after the Sept. 11, 2001, 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.
Both sides planned to call experts in Islamic law at the trial, which continues Wednesday. A copy of the Quran has been entered into evidence.
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.
This is absolute BS
If this woman wants to wear her veil in her drivers license photo...she can walk as far as I'm concerned
Amish people...don' drive cars due to their religious beliefs
Jewish People dont' work on saturday due to their religious beliefs
If we cant' tell that's she's passing her license on to someone else....it's no good.
Sh'es a whiner that wants public attn...and in fact looking at other muslim countries....she's being an idiot
So really the choice is simple she can either abide by the saudi system..or the system in the countries below.
Freedom of religion just means you won't be jailed for your beliefs...it's not a rite of passage to bypass measures implemented by general society. In that case can't I say that appearing for jury duty is against my hindu belief of not judging others? or that paying taxes doesn't cohere with my beliefs ?
This woman can go to hell...and take this case with her. The entire muslims world seems to realize an ID card such as a driver's lcense is useless with the veil on...why can't this woman?
Driver?s identification rules in Muslim nations:
Saudi Arabia: Women aren't allowed to drive
Iran: Women wear a traditional chador, which does not cover the face.
Egypt: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
United Arab Emirates: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Oman: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Kuwait: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Qatar: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Bahrain: Women do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
Jordan: Women can drive if their faces are covered but do not cover their face in I.D. pictures
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/05/28/license.veil.ap/index.html