STORM2K

What do you think about this? I'll tell you how I feel: This is America and this is how we do it here. If you don't like it, you're welcome to leave. How could we continue to use our driver's licenses as identification if we have a bunch of women running around with nothing but their eyes showing? Am I wrong to feel this way? Please tell me if I am.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Experts in Islamic law are being called to testify in the lawsuit of a Muslim woman fighting a state order to take off her veil for her driver's license photo.

Sultanna Freeman, 35, says Florida's insistence on photographing her face violates her religious rights.

``I don't unveil ... because it would be disobeying my Lord,'' Freeman testified Tuesday at the start of her non-jury trial.

Assistant Attorney General Jason Vail argued that having an easily identifiable photo on a driver's license is a matter of public safety.

``It's the primary method of identification in Florida and the nation,'' Vail said. ``I don't think there can be any doubt there is a public safety interest.''

Freeman's attorneys argue that state officials didn't care that she wore a veil in her Florida driver's license photo until after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, an allegation the state denies.

``This is about religious liberty. It's about whether this country is going to have religious diversity,'' said Howard Marks, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.

Both sides planned to call experts in Islamic law at the trial, which continues Wednesday. A copy of the Quran has been entered into evidence.

Freeman, a convert to Islam previously known as Sandra Kellar, wore her veil for the photo on the Florida driver's license she obtained after moving to the state in 2001.

Nine months later, she received a letter from the state warning that it would revoke her license unless she returned for a photo with her face uncovered.

Freeman claims her religious beliefs require her to keep her head and face covered out of modesty and that her faith prohibits her face from being photographed.

I guess we could lump this in with the thousands of other drivers not paying much attention to the road: talking on cell phones, applying makeup, drinking coffee, eating, checking e-mail, reading the paper, and oh now, not having a clear view of the road now too.

It does seem like fewer and fewer drivers take driving seriously now. This article just reminded me of this sad fact.

If this woman is so adamant about wearing the veil for her lisence photo, then you know she's wearing it each and every time she drives. I hope she's not doing too much driving....especially on the Interstates. Yikes. You have to have your wits about you driving in rush hour. And this is only Cincinnati. Picture her going thru Atlanta on I-75 - 7 lanes wide. Or downtown Chicago? I wouldn't want to be next to her. Oops, thought this lane was empty, as she crashes into you.

I respect her decision to wear a veil, it's just not wise to wear one while driving, IMHO.

When in Rome do as the Romans do. She should unveil like eveyone else here in America. And if she chooses not to, well no license for her. Plain and simple.

REDICULOUS... I was just coming here to post this story.. Just saw it on the news and it realy ticked me off.

She is brave this dayand age to drive around looking like that IMHO

Just read some of the replies CNN is getting from viewers this morning. One I'll paraphrase from Alex in Florida - How in the world is she going to put on her makeup and talk on the cell phone while wearing that veil?

Thought that was a funny reply!

Yes it is!!!

Besides the obvious identification issue, her veil is hazardous in operating a vehicle due to its peripheral vision limitations; even if she turned her head to view the "blind spots" behind her, she couldn't.

Religious fervor, in this case, has to yield to the public safety. Take it off, or no license...and have a court-authorized "endorsement" in place, prohibiting this driver to wear the veil while operatiing a vehicle. Period.

Oh ya... there realy worried about sinning....

Look below

Almost five years ago, she took off her veil to be photographed by police for child abuse (photo left). She was arrested in Illinois for beating three-year-old twin foster children and breaking the arm of one of the girls by pushing her down. The children were removed from her home, according to records from the Decatur (Ill.) Police Services.

Freeman apparently hides more than her face. Police reports show she covered the children's bruises with Muslim garb, refused more than once for child care workers to check the children for injuries and told the foster children to lie about the bruises and broken bone. She plead guilty and served 18-months probation.

In another disturbing twist in this story, four years ago Freeman's husband Mark (photo right) was caught with fake IDs bearing his photograph and other people's names. When asked about that, Freeman tried to hide behind a veil of secrecy. Illinois Police found the fake ID's after they arrested Freeman for recklessly firing a gun while he was wearing his Muslim garb.

Police had to get a search warrant to enter his home for their investigation. He told them he could not let them in because they were not of the Muslim faith.

Our country our laws As others have said the veil is a danger to safe operation of the vehicle. If she feels so strongly then she should surrender her driver's license!

I'm glad to see that ya'll see it the same way I do. I can't believe what you posted Chad. That makes me sick! I will never never never understand child abuse!!!! I guess I should thank God for that though. I don't really want to understand how a heart could be so evil.

Her faith prohibits her face from being photographed? ``I don't unveil ... because it would be disobeying my Lord,''?

I wonder if her "faith" prohibits beating children and breaking their bones!!!

Good question SG. What does the Muslim faith say about that?

Yes, SG... Sick!!! Cant believe tax dollars are even being wasted on this case

I agree Chad. I'm not too happy either that they are wasting tax dollars and cluttering up our legal system with a stupid lawsuit like this.

If you come to live in America, obey the laws of America. They all want the good life, but don't want to make the sacrifices. My relegion teaches when you visit another community you keep your customs, but when you move to a new community you take on the customs of that community as you are going to be a part of that community. This doesn't only go for the muslims, but for all the foreigners that come to our shores. Don't make me learn your customs and language. If you are going to live here learn our customs and Language!

I say she should have to pay all the costs when she loses!!!!!

Having a drivers license is a privalidge, not a right! Give it up, Muslie! (oh, and not being able to spell correctly is a right that no one can take away from me!)

The fact that she beat her children is immaterial. There are Christians who beat their children as well, as well as Jews and people of every other religion. The point is whether it is okay for her to wear her vail or not. I know if you went to a muslim country and they required that you couldn't wear any Christian paraphernalia, such as crosses or Jesuses, or whatever, you would be up in arms about how ridiculous it is that they won't let you display your faith. Oh wait a minute, when people want to ban public Christian activities and displays, you guys DO get up in arms about it. Pick one stance and stick to it; don't be hypocrits.

If you come to live in America, obey the laws of America. They all want the good life, but don't want to make the sacrifices. My relegion teaches when you visit another community you keep your customs, but when you move to a new community you take on the customs of that community as you are going to be a part of that community. This doesn't only go for the muslims, but for all the foreigners that come to our shores. Don't make me learn your customs and language. If you are going to live here learn our customs and Language!

That's rich coming from this country. Our country was built on cultures mixing together, not having one forced dominant culture. Everyone is up in arms about the hispanics coming in and about how they aren't learning English, blah blah blah. Then they say how immigrants of the past learned English. Well, they didn't learn English. They went off and lived in their own sections of town and spoke their own language with their own customs. And interestingly enough, people treated them badly back then. Now we try to extend a helping hand to ease the process, and everybody is mad about how they aren't learning the language and the customs. Well, the first generation people aren't, and they won't. But the later generations will. You don't learn your language and customs from your parents, you learn it from your peers. And kids are very good at learning things. Thus, when they go to school, even if they go to special spanish speaking classrooms, at some point they will be exposed to English and American culture, and at some point, this whole hispanic influx will become Americanized. The same thing happened in England after the Norman and Danish conquests and it has happened time and again in history.

WM.. that is just crazy

and they required that you couldn't wear any Christian paraphernalia, such as crosses or Jesuses, or whatever, you would be up in arms about how ridiculous it is that they won't let you display your faith. Oh wait a minute, when people want to ban public Christian activities and displays, you guys DO get up in arms about it. Pick one stance and stick to it; don't be hypocrits.

no, we would leave that country then..

I am just disgusted with your responce that im not even going to go any further with it..