Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions circulating in the media, online forums and the general public. We will address some of them on this page.

Misconception #1: This first misconception is that the hijab covers the face and conceals a person's identity.
Dispelled: The hijab does not cover the face (thus, the women who wear hijab are identifiable).

Misconception #2: The policy requiring individuals to remove any and all headgear for a driver's license photo is a law.
Dispelled: The "no headgear" policy is not law. It is an internal Dept. of Public Safety policy (Policy #64), and was not approved by any legislative body.

Misconception #3: This is not an issue of discrimination.
Dispelled: Drivers with wigs and other hair pieces are allowed to take their photograph while wearing these items. The only difference between these individuals and women in hijab is their religion. Therefore, this is a clear case of religious discrimination.

Misconception #4: This is an issue of national security.
Dispelled: This is not an issue of national security. The hijab does not cover any part of the face, thus law enforcement personnel are able to positively identify individuals wearing hijab. The identification photograph on a driver's license needs to accurately reflect how the holder of that license appears while in public. By forcing Muslim women to remove their hijab for their driver's license photograph, they will appear differently in the photograph than they do in public. Thus, the "identification for security reasons" argument is not valid.