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Pre-Trial Statement by Sultaana Freeman

May 27, 2003

In The Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful.

I am a devout Muslim, born and raised in the United States of America. A product of the public school system, I was taught that pilgrims came to this land fleeing religious persecution. I also learned that the U.S. Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freely practice his or her religion and that the government cannot and will not force a religion on the people.

I converted from Christianity to Islam as an adult, and when doing so, I expected to still be able to exercise freedom of religion and freedom of expression. With all praise being given to Allah, I was able to move about society freely as a veiling Muslim, wearing a niqab, which is a religious veil that covers a portion of the face. As a business professional at a large corporation, wearing the niqab in no way impeded me from performing my job. I discovered veiling to be the ultimate in self-respect and feminism, as this liberating act sent a clear message that I am not an object of sexual fulfillment but a person of strong religious conviction.

Whether you believe that the Niqab is a requirement of Muslim women or not, the fact is - it is how I have chosen to practice my religion. I wear the niqab because I believe that according to The Qur'an and Sunnah, Allah has legislated for the believing woman to dress in this modest way. Embracing the niqab was a very personal choice, and I thank Allah for the protection it has afforded me in life, as a woman of faith.

With the solid support of my loving husband, the prayers of many people, and the efforts of concerned citizens, I have challenged the actions of the Florida DMV in their attempt to strip away the fundamental right to exercise religious freedom.

Over the next few days, my faith will be tested in a court of law. It is hard to believe that a person would ever have to justify his or her religious beliefs in a court of law. But that is, in fact, what has happened today. Incredibly, I have been asked to justify why I wear a veil in the presence of strangers. Why have I adopted such strict interpretations of the Holy Qur'an? Why am I being "hypersensitive?" Many Christians who abstain from taking photographs may be considered equally hypersensitive. But just as they fought in courts of law to uphold their own religious principles, so too will I.

There are millions of Americans who do not drive or have any identification with a photograph. I do not believe that the lack of a photo in any way hinders the authorities from arresting someone who has committed a crime, because they do it every day.

Wearing a religious veil is a peaceful, modest act; I am not a threat to public safety because of practicing Islam.

Whatever happens as a result of this case, I know that the outcome has already been decreed by Allah, and I put my hope and fear in Allah, the Source of All Goodness.

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