| NC Government |
Muslim women, when attempting to obtain or renew driver’s licenses, or
acquire North Carolina identification, are ordered to bring a witness willing to
sign an affidavit on their behalf, which swears to the fact that the head
covering is based on a religious requirement. After the initial complaints from
some Muslim women, MAS Freedom Foundation - North Carolina initiated an
investigation and found out that several Muslim women were not only ordered
to bring a witness with them, but also to push their scarves back off the
forehead, revealing a portion of their hair. Failure to do so would exclude
their ability to obtain the legal document that was being requested. Our
investigation also revealed that this rule was being applied almost exclusively
to Muslim women only. Other applicants with various head covering, including
wigs, were not required to submit additional information nor were they forced
to push back headgear in order to supply the North Carolina Department of
Motor vehicle conclusive proof of the natural state of their identities.
acquire North Carolina identification, are ordered to bring a witness willing to
sign an affidavit on their behalf, which swears to the fact that the head
covering is based on a religious requirement. After the initial complaints from
some Muslim women, MAS Freedom Foundation - North Carolina initiated an
investigation and found out that several Muslim women were not only ordered
to bring a witness with them, but also to push their scarves back off the
forehead, revealing a portion of their hair. Failure to do so would exclude
their ability to obtain the legal document that was being requested. Our
investigation also revealed that this rule was being applied almost exclusively
to Muslim women only. Other applicants with various head covering, including
wigs, were not required to submit additional information nor were they forced
to push back headgear in order to supply the North Carolina Department of
Motor vehicle conclusive proof of the natural state of their identities.
| ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE ISSUES NEW POLICY REGARDING |
• The circumstances where DMV rules were applied did not appear to follow any clear sequence,
except with regards to women in “hijab,” the headcovering. Our primary mission in establishing a
Freedom Foundation chapter in North Carolina is to build an integrated empowerment process for
North Carolinian Muslims and facilitate the protection of their civil rights and liberties. That is why
MAS was naturally concerned about this practice and made a complaint to the director of the DMV
about what appeared to be obvious biases and what might be defined as an infringement on Muslim
women’s rights and time. Assistant Director Tony Spence promised to investigate the matter fully. He
began by viewing about 500 photographs of Muslim women, past and present, to determine if there
was any evidence of blatant disregard for the right of Muslim women to remain covered when
photographed. He stated that he had not seen any evidence of any civil violations being implemented
on a day-to-day basis, but did agree that being forced to bring an additional party to sign an affidavit
constituted an inconvenience, and that any DMV officers who insisted that a Muslim woman reveal her
hair were acting inappropriately. He confirmed, however, that he did not have the authority to alter or
make exemptions to the rules in place, and that jurisdiction concerning laws and policies of the
Department of Motor Vehicle are left with the Attorney General’s office.
In addition to contacting Azadeh N. Shahshahani of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), MAS
Freedom Foundation NC Director Khalilah Sabra spoke with Special Deputy Attorney General Neil
Dalton for advice and assistance. He related that the original concerns had previously been
transmitted to the Attorney General who agreed that the process should be altered. At this point, the
Attorney General’s office was moving quickly to resolve this issue in such a way that would allow a
Muslim woman her dignity in a public place such as the DMV, and at the same time, not impede the
process of obtaining a license.
except with regards to women in “hijab,” the headcovering. Our primary mission in establishing a
Freedom Foundation chapter in North Carolina is to build an integrated empowerment process for
North Carolinian Muslims and facilitate the protection of their civil rights and liberties. That is why
MAS was naturally concerned about this practice and made a complaint to the director of the DMV
about what appeared to be obvious biases and what might be defined as an infringement on Muslim
women’s rights and time. Assistant Director Tony Spence promised to investigate the matter fully. He
began by viewing about 500 photographs of Muslim women, past and present, to determine if there
was any evidence of blatant disregard for the right of Muslim women to remain covered when
photographed. He stated that he had not seen any evidence of any civil violations being implemented
on a day-to-day basis, but did agree that being forced to bring an additional party to sign an affidavit
constituted an inconvenience, and that any DMV officers who insisted that a Muslim woman reveal her
hair were acting inappropriately. He confirmed, however, that he did not have the authority to alter or
make exemptions to the rules in place, and that jurisdiction concerning laws and policies of the
Department of Motor Vehicle are left with the Attorney General’s office.
In addition to contacting Azadeh N. Shahshahani of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), MAS
Freedom Foundation NC Director Khalilah Sabra spoke with Special Deputy Attorney General Neil
Dalton for advice and assistance. He related that the original concerns had previously been
transmitted to the Attorney General who agreed that the process should be altered. At this point, the
Attorney General’s office was moving quickly to resolve this issue in such a way that would allow a
Muslim woman her dignity in a public place such as the DMV, and at the same time, not impede the
process of obtaining a license.
We are pleased to announce that in a timely
fashion, the Attorney General’s office made
revisions to the policy regarding “headgear.” On
Friday, February 16, 2007, MAS was notified by
Special Deputy Attorney Neil Dalton that “effective
February 21, 2007, all customers, with no
exception, must allow their photos to be taken
without any type of headgear visible except
where removal of headgear would violate the
religious conviction of the customer or where the
customer must wear headgear for medical
purposes. In cases where the customer states a
religious or medical reason for headgear, the
customer must complete a revised headgear
affidavit”.
For purposes of verifying identification, the
customer who completes the affidavit cannot
wear headgear that covers those parts of the
face which are critical for positive identification.
The portion of the customer’s face from the
upper forehead to the lowest point of the chin
cannot be covered except by “facial hair.”
The affidavit allows applicants to check a box
allowing for a religious or medical exemption.
fashion, the Attorney General’s office made
revisions to the policy regarding “headgear.” On
Friday, February 16, 2007, MAS was notified by
Special Deputy Attorney Neil Dalton that “effective
February 21, 2007, all customers, with no
exception, must allow their photos to be taken
without any type of headgear visible except
where removal of headgear would violate the
religious conviction of the customer or where the
customer must wear headgear for medical
purposes. In cases where the customer states a
religious or medical reason for headgear, the
customer must complete a revised headgear
affidavit”.
For purposes of verifying identification, the
customer who completes the affidavit cannot
wear headgear that covers those parts of the
face which are critical for positive identification.
The portion of the customer’s face from the
upper forehead to the lowest point of the chin
cannot be covered except by “facial hair.”
The affidavit allows applicants to check a box
allowing for a religious or medical exemption.
| HIJAB |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
|
We are particularly eager to ascertain how private and public practices and procedures affect different
and store data of discrimination and abuses and investigate their underlying causes, and attempt to
remove any unfairness or disadvantage. Racial monitoring allows the foundation to reach
underrepresented groups and make sure that our services and avenues of advocacy are relevant to
their needs, and are provided fairly. Equal opportunities policy must be made to work and offer
equality of opportunity and treatment to all ethnic groups. Establishing the methods that have made
MAS the major Muslim grassroots organization in America, our North Carolina branch will not fall
short of this ideal. When problems arise, we will concentrate on finding solutions and making
changes, rather than using guesswork or assumptions.
and store data of discrimination and abuses and investigate their underlying causes, and attempt to
remove any unfairness or disadvantage. Racial monitoring allows the foundation to reach
underrepresented groups and make sure that our services and avenues of advocacy are relevant to
their needs, and are provided fairly. Equal opportunities policy must be made to work and offer
equality of opportunity and treatment to all ethnic groups. Establishing the methods that have made
MAS the major Muslim grassroots organization in America, our North Carolina branch will not fall
short of this ideal. When problems arise, we will concentrate on finding solutions and making
changes, rather than using guesswork or assumptions.
