Published Letters to the Editor

Mobile Register 02/11/04

Scarf removal is a violation of rights

I was one of the Muslim women who tried to get an Alabama driver's license, but was unable to when the Department of Public Safety insisted that I remove my religiously mandated head scarf for the driver's license photograph.

I refused to remove my head scarf, and they refused to take my photograph. My head scarf is required by my religion, and is non-negotiable. It does not cover my face and does not conceal my identity in any way.

When I asked to see this requirement in writing, I was made aware that it was only an internal policy of the DPS. It is not a law, and was not approved by the Alabama Legislature.

I am an American citizen, born and raised. I know that the First Amendment's guarantee of religious freedom is being violated, and that this has nothing to do with my ability to be identified. People with wigs and hairpieces are not required to remove those items, but the head scarf of a Muslim woman is unacceptable?

With a stroke of the pen, one man is able to infringe upon the religious rights of thousands of Alabama residents. With another stroke of a pen, religious freedoms can be restored in Alabama. We, the Muslims of Alabama and all of America, are watching and waiting for Alabama to do the right thing, and right this wrong.

LA TONYA FLOYD
Mobile

The Birmingham News 12/10/04

Other states allow head scarves:

Alabama's Department of Public Safety recently reminded workers not to allow head coverings in driver's license photographs and stressed that "medical and religious exclusions will not be honored."

Muslims are complaining about this policy and are asking for reasonable religious accommodation. These women do not cover their faces, but simply wear the head scarf.

There are Muslims in every state in this country. Why are only Alabama Muslims complaining? Well, some states neighboring Alabama have the First Amendment in mind regarding their photo policy.

Mississippi's policy states: "An applicant will be able to wear head cover: "1. When worn for religious purposes. 2. Illness."

Florida's policy states: "Hats or head coverings are permissible if required for religious or medical reasons."

Louisiana's policy states: "Applicants will not be photographed with head coverings. The only exception to this will be any religious sect requiring head covering."

Tennessee's policy states: "Head coverings are allowed only for religious reasons, or medical conditions."

None of these states see a problem with trying to identify someone in a scarf who will also have one on in their license photograph. So, why is the Alabama Department of Public Safety refusing to give the same reasonable religious accommodation?

La Tonya Floyd
Mobile

Birmingham News 02/03/04

Muslim scarves not un-American:

It seems like every time the rights of Muslims or other minorities are invaded, the choices they're given are either to give up their rights or go back to where they came from. Well, for many of us, this is where we come from. This is home. Surprised? Don't be! Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. With regard to a recent letter titled "Immigrants must conform to law," I would like to state a few facts.

1) "Muslim" does not equal immigrant because Islam is an indigenous religion in America.

2) United States law does not differentiate between citizens based on their religion or ethnic background.

3) Even noncitizens have rights in this country and are protected under the law.

4) Under Alabama's new policy, Muslim women or cancer patients must remove their head cover for their picture to be taken. We are not talking about face covering.

5) The idea that covering the hair impairs identification is absurd.

Up to now, the head cover never was an issue. Furthermore, many women change the color and shape of their hair. There is no policy that requires women to restore their hair to its original nature before their driver's license photo is taken. Also, we have documented cases in which women wearing wigs or weaves that completely covered their hair did not have any problem getting their driver's license photo taken.

I think any fair-minded person can easily realize that there is no relationship between head covering and proper identification.

Sammy Kanpher
Hoover

Birmingham News 02/01/04

License flap shows misunderstanding:

A recent letter regarding head scarves unfortunately confuses several issues and shows why deeper understanding is needed.

The Muslim religion does not bar women from driving cars. Some fundamental regimes do; this is not a general Islamic view. The vast majority of Muslim women throughout the world are free to drive. Various Christian sects, such as the Amish, are not the norm, but we do not judge all Christians by their particular interpretations.

The head scarf is a sign of respect to God, part of the wearer's religion, not a rule decreed by a nation. I'm sure Christians don't believe that not taking the Lord's name in vain is an American rule, and therefore to be dispensed with outside our borders.

At an airport, a Muslim woman would be wearing her head scarf. Her ID photo should reflect what security will see, not something different. Her face would be completely exposed (this is just a hijab, not a full veil), and hair color, easily checked, is noted on the license.

A head scarf will not change appearance any more than a long-haired brunette going short and blonde, or a man whose license shows ö0s-style locks shaving his head. Neither of these is legislated against.

As we all try to get along in a changing world, surely a compromise as small as this, especially one that has no downside, is easily possible.

Andrew Haffenden
Helena

The Anniston Star 02/01/04

Reasons for headscarves

Re the Jan. 21 letter, “Obeying laws”:

The issue of headscarves in driver’s license photos calls for a bit more understanding than the letter writer offered. Muslim women who wear a headscarf do so as a sign of modesty and purity. Ordering a devout Muslim woman to bare her head before strangers is deeply insulting. Imagine such an insult to your mother or your sister. No one would want to tolerate it.

This is not a public safety issue. It’s about bigotry. A Star article noted that other women have been allowed exemptions from the policy for wigs and headscarves, such as those used by women with cancer.

The question would be: Why were those women offered a measure of dignity and understanding that we are unwilling to extend to our Muslim neighbors? Are we that afraid of Muslim women, driving their children to ball practice or running errands in town?

Our nation began with the hope of free exercise of religious belief. Many native-born Americans are Muslim; other Muslims have immigrated with the hope of being part of our society. Our laws should reflect the freedom to worship God in our own way. People of faith are more alike than we are different. We need to show a lot more understanding and Southern hospitality.

Susan M. Di Biase
Jacksonville

Mobile Register Sound Off 01/22/04

We do have religious freedoms here :

I'm a committed Christian. I'm calling about the Muslim woman. If I were asked to remove my clothing to have my photo taken, I would also protest, and that would be just as wrong as asking this woman to remove her head scarf. We do have religious freedom in this country, and it's time these things are upheld.

Mobile Register Sound Off 01/21/04

Will fight for all people's freedom :

I'm a 110-percent, full-blooded American who has served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years and has fought for freedom. I will continue to fight for freedom, not for the sake of being scared, but for actual freedom. Just like Ms. Floyd, the Muslim woman: I will fight for her not to have to take off her head scarf when she takes her picture for her driver's license, regardless if it is a privilege or right. These are things that the American society has known for decades. It's not based on one race, religion or group. It's about freedom for everyone, even for the idiots who call in and make the insensitive, racist remarks in Sound Off. That's their right, and I'll fight for those types of freedoms all day long, buddy.