There is absolutely NO comparison!!! The reason for the rulling was for the security of the public in general. I live in Florida and I certainly agreed with the ruling .... The woman was acting quite overboard. She even a few years according to the newsreports had to take a mug shot for some law she violated and with her children in her "own" words cross out the faces in the cereal boxes saying they are yucki!! What kind of problems do you think these kids will have in the future!!! Quite sad don't you think!!! Pick your battles I say!!

NT

---, I think these are two different things. In her case, she was covering her entire face, making it difficult to identify her. The purpose of the photo on a driver's license is to identify that the person carrying the license is in fact, the person whose vital statistics are listed on the license. Because of this, Driver's Licenses are legal proof of identification in the State of Florida, just as valid as a U.S. passport. Sultaana Freeman will be allowed to cover her head if she wishes, just as a Jewish man can cover his head if he wishes. The Muslim women I have known do not cover their faces, only their heads, so I really don't think this is going to be an issue.

Author: (---)
Date: 06-11-03 22:58 PDT

both veils and yarmulkes are considered religious clothing. The muslims might see that as a loophole to debate the matter.

Author: (---)
Date: 06-06-03 14:34 PDT

JUDGE: WOMAN CAN'T WEAR VEIL IN ID PHOTO

By MIKE BRANOM, Associated Press Writer
Friday, June 6, 2003-

A Florida judge ruled Friday that a Muslim woman cannot wear a veil in her driver's license photo, agreeing with state authorities that the practice could help terrorists conceal their identities.

After hearing three days of testimony last week, Circuit Judge Janet C. Thorpe ruled that Sultaana Freeman's right to free exercise of religion would not be infringed by having to show her face on her license.

Thorpe said the state "has a compelling interest in protecting the public from criminal activities and security threats," and "having access to photo image identification is essential to promote that interest."

Assistant Attorney General Jason Vail had argued that Islamic law has exceptions that allow women to expose their faces if it serves a public good, and that arrangements could be made to have Freeman photographed with only women present to allay her concerns about modesty.

"Nothing is more important than making sure that our people are safe, and (Thorpe's) good logic in making sure Floridians continue to be able to be safe is very, very important," Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said Friday.

Freeman, a convert to Islam previously known as Sandra Kellar, started wearing a veil in 1997. She had a mug shot taken without the veil after her arrest in Illinois in 1998 on a domestic battery charge involving one of twin 3-year-old sisters who were in her foster care.
Child welfare workers told investigators that Freeman and her husband had used their concerns about religious modesty to hinder them from looking for bruises on the girls, according to the police records. The girls were removed from the home