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CAIR-Chicago Celebrates Settlement with Illinois Secretary of State Regarding Religious Headwear Form  

(CHICAGO, IL, 5/28/2020) - The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, today announced a settlement with the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS) regarding an official form focused on religious headwear. The form stated that if individuals wanted a Driver’s License photo or State ID picture with religious head coverings, they must wear said covering in public at all times or risk license suspension.  

SEE: CAIR-Chicago Files Complaint Against Illinois Secretary of State 

The new form, drafted with CAIR-Chicago after they filed a lawsuit complaint, removes the penalty language and replaces limited exceptions to the clause in the previous form with: “My religious beliefs require me to wear an unconcealed religious head covering when I am in public. In observation and exercise of my religious beliefs, I do not normally remove my head covering in public unless removal is necessary in my discretion. I do not remove the head covering in public as a matter of courtesy or protocol, such as when in court.” 

“The new language in the form is much more constitutionally sound than its predecessor, and strikes an appropriate balance between the government’s responsibility to keep Illinois roads safe and our community members’ rights to freely practice their faith while in public,” said Phil Robertson, Litigation Director for CAIR-Chicago.  

The new form and language are already being used across the State pursuant to an Emergency Rule noticed for Public Hearing in March. If there are no objections, the form will be proposed as a permanent change, and after a period of time for public hearing it will become the standard form used State-wide in all Secretary of State offices.  

“When I was assured that I would not get my license unless I sign a form that I believe clearly discriminated against me, I immediately called CAIR- Chicago,” the client, Maryjane Bicksler, said when she saw the initial form. “I thank CAIR-Chicago attorneys and all the staff for the time and energy they have put into creating a new document and protecting my rights as a Muslim.” 

CAIR-Chicago is the Chicago Chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Our mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance. 

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CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Saadia Pervaiz, 312-212-1520, spervaiz@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Hannah Faris, 312-212-1520, hfaris@cair.com