Aryavartha
07-03-2006, 06:40
http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14156817&headline=Sikhs~directed~remove~turbans~for~snaps
Sikhs in France must remove turbans for license snaps
Tuesday, 07 March , 2006, 01:01
Paris: France’s highest administrative body ruled on Monday that Sikhs must remove their turbans for drivers license photos, calling it a question of public security and not a restriction on freedom of religion.
The Council of States ruling reversed an earlier decision in favour of Shingara Mann Singh, a French citizen who refused to take off his turban for license photo in 2004.
For Sikhs, the turban is an article of faith.
The case gained attention amid tensions between France’s religious minorities and the government over a law banning conspicuous religious signs in public schools, aimed at Islamic headscarves.
Singh took his case to the Council of State, which ruled in December that he could wear his turban because a ban on covering the head in official photos came from the Interior Ministry, not the Transport Ministry. The council said a Transport Ministry order concerning identity photos was not precise enough to apply to his driver’s license.
The following day, the Transport Ministry changed its order, specifically saying that the Interior Ministry ban was applicable on driver’s licenses.
The case went back to the Council of State, which ruled on Monday that Singh should take his turban off for the photo.
Well well, this should be an interesting.
I can understand this decision in the "no exception for any religion" angle but what I don't understand is its effectiveness. Taking a picture of a turban-less Sikh is of no use, because you cannot identify the Sikh using the pic, cuz he is going to be in the turban all the time (while he is outside the home).
I can't imagine a Sikh having to untie his turban everytime an offices wants to verify his ID.:p
Sikhs in France must remove turbans for license snaps
Tuesday, 07 March , 2006, 01:01
Paris: France’s highest administrative body ruled on Monday that Sikhs must remove their turbans for drivers license photos, calling it a question of public security and not a restriction on freedom of religion.
The Council of States ruling reversed an earlier decision in favour of Shingara Mann Singh, a French citizen who refused to take off his turban for license photo in 2004.
For Sikhs, the turban is an article of faith.
The case gained attention amid tensions between France’s religious minorities and the government over a law banning conspicuous religious signs in public schools, aimed at Islamic headscarves.
Singh took his case to the Council of State, which ruled in December that he could wear his turban because a ban on covering the head in official photos came from the Interior Ministry, not the Transport Ministry. The council said a Transport Ministry order concerning identity photos was not precise enough to apply to his driver’s license.
The following day, the Transport Ministry changed its order, specifically saying that the Interior Ministry ban was applicable on driver’s licenses.
The case went back to the Council of State, which ruled on Monday that Singh should take his turban off for the photo.
Well well, this should be an interesting.
I can understand this decision in the "no exception for any religion" angle but what I don't understand is its effectiveness. Taking a picture of a turban-less Sikh is of no use, because you cannot identify the Sikh using the pic, cuz he is going to be in the turban all the time (while he is outside the home).
I can't imagine a Sikh having to untie his turban everytime an offices wants to verify his ID.:p