Action Alert: Oklahoma Legislature Considering a Ban on the Use of Head Cover for Driver’s License Photos

(March 9, 2009) The Islamic Society of North American is deeply concerned about the recent vote in Oklahoma lower house to ban the use of head cover for driver’s license photos, and believes that such move violate the civil rights of Muslims. The Oklahoma state Senate is considering a bill that has already passed the Oklahoma state House, HB1645, which is intended to amend the present law to prohibit Oklahomans from wearing head scarves or other coverings in driver’s license photographs. If passed, the law will violate the religious and constitutional rights of Oklahomans Muslim women who are required by their faith to cover their heads in public.

Wearing a headscarf is a religious duty for Muslim women, not merely a cultural custom, and legislating its removal from driver’s license photos would create an extreme hardship as it would force Oklahoman Muslim women to choose between applying for driver’s license and following their faith requirements. No American should ever be forced to make such a choice.

The US Constitution protects the free exercise of religion and ensures that religious practices and traditions are respected and accommodated. The Founding Fathers enshrined this inalienable right in the constitutional Bill of Rights and countless fellow Americans fought long and hard to ensure that all Americans are able to enjoy the values of freedom and equality.

Action

Please call the leaders of the Oklahoma state Senate and ask them to protect the religious freedom of Oklahomans and to reject the ongoing attempt to undermine the civil liberties of Muslim Americans and other religious minorities.

• Senator Charlie Laster
  Democratic Leader
  2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 522
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105
  (405) 521-5539
  laster@oksenate.gov
• Senator Glenn Coffee
  President Pro Tempore
  2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Rm. 422
  Oklahoma City, OK 73105
  405.521.5799
  405.530.2304 (fax)
  coffee@oksenate.gov

For questions and further information on this Action Alert, please call Louay Safi at 317-839-1807.