The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a federal lawsuit Aug. 30 on behalf of a Christian woman forced to remove her headscarf for a driver’s license photo in violation of her religious convictions.
The lawsuit says Yvonne Allen, of Tuskegee, is a devout Christian woman who believes the Bible commands in 1 Corinthians 11 that she show her submission to God by covering her hair in public. When she went to renew her license at a Lee County driver’s license office in December 2015, she claims county officials told her a religious accommodation available for head coverings applied only to Muslims.
“I was devastated when they forced me to remove my headscarf to take my driver’s license photo,” Allen said in a press release. “I should have the same right as people of other faiths to be accommodated for my religious beliefs.”
The lawsuit says Lee County’s refusal to grant Allen a religious accommodation contradicts state rules and violates her rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Alabama Constitution.
Susan Watson, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama, said, “The county’s interpretation of state rules blatantly violates the First Amendment. The government cannot discriminate between faiths in granting religious accommodations.”
Differing viewpoints
Complementarians differ over whether the Apostle Paul’s admonition that it is a “disgrace” for a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered applies to Christians today.
“Regardless of how widespread the practice has been historically, or how commonly it is followed today, Ms. Allen sincerely believes that her personal Christian faith compels her to cover her hair when in public,” the lawsuit claims.
It asks that she be allowed to retake her driver’s license photo wearing a headscarf and that the county be ordered to pay her court costs. (BNG)
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