Florida woman sues state for disallowing veil in I.D. photo

By The Associated Press

01.24.03

Printer-friendly page

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Muslim woman has sued the state of Florida for a second time because she won't lift her veil for a state-issued photo.

A lawyer for Sultaana Freeman, 35, has filed a civil lawsuit claiming First Amendment violations after the state's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles refused to issue her a state identification card.

She first sued when her driver's license was revoked in 2001 because she would not uncover her face for a new license. At the time she had a license with her veil covering most of her face.

But after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in a security crackdown, the state tightened requirements for getting a license and demanded full-face photos.

Her attorney, Howard Marks, has argued that Florida statutes don't require a photograph on an I.D. card and that the government's stand is unconstitutional.

Freeman cannot drive and relies on her husband and friends for rides, Marks said. Freeman sought an ID card last October in part to be able to write checks and have identification. Instead, Freeman carries a birth certificate, her Social Security card and a court order detailing her name change.

"It's making her life difficult, more difficult than it needs to be," Marks said on Jan. 22 when he filed the suit in Orange County.

State officials say agency rules prevent them from issuing cards with photographs of covered faces.

A trial is scheduled for April.

Related

Muslims protest jail's refusal to let woman wear head covering
About 50 people demonstrate at Cleveland's Justice Center after officials disallow Aisha Samad's hijab for court appearance.  07.20.02

Sikh charges NYPD with bias over beard, turban
'I was fired because I refused to give up my right as an American to practice my religion,' says former officer.  06.12.02