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Peek-A-Boo Lawsuit.
A Muslim woman, who claimed her religious beliefs
prevented her from showing her face in public, has lost her case over her
insistence of wearing a veil in her driver's license photo.
An Orlando, Florida circuit court judge ruled that Sultaana Freeman's
right to free exercise of religion would not be burdened by showing her
face on the license. The ruling followed three days of testimony.
Freeman had brought the suit against the State of Florida after the state
revoked her license in 2001. The revocation took place when she refused to
have her photo retaken with her face uncovered, saying it violated her
religious beliefs. Her previous license showed her veiled with only her
eyes visible.
Nine months later, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Ms.
Freeman received a letter from the state warning that it would revoke her
license unless she returned for a photo with her face uncovered.
Her lawyers argued that instead of a driver's license photo, she could use
other documents such as a birth certificate or Social Security card to
prove her identity if necessary.
But a state attorney countered that Islamic law has exceptions that allow
women to lift their veil and expose their face if the action serves a
public good.
The Assistant Attorney General said arrangements can
be made to have Freeman photographed only with women present to allay her
concerns about modesty.
Source: AP, "Judge: Woman Can't Wear Veil in ID
Photo," June 6, 2003.
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