February 3, 2003	Monday	Zilhaj 1,1423

WASHINGTON, Feb 2: Officials in Oklahoma State have rescinded a law banning religious head coverings in driver’s licence photos, reports said on Sunday.

The decision came after a meeting between Department of Public Safety Commissioner Mr Bob Ricks and Muslim groups that viewed the ban as a violation of religious rights.

Oklahoma’s ban on head covering in driver identity card photos came to light when several Muslim women in that state said they were not allowed to take photos with their religiously-mandated headscarves.

In the past, departmental procedures have prohibited religious head coverings, although exceptions were made for people suffering from medical conditions. According to an agreement reached between Mr Ricks and representatives from the Oklahoma Muslim groups, women who wear religious head coverings will now be able to take driver’s licence photos.