US - Bus Officials Apologize to Muslim Woman

This case illustrates why Government officials need to be educated about Islam and quickly.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Public transit officials have apologized to a woman wearing an Islamic facial veil who was turned away from a bus and Friday rescinded a rule banning people with face coverings.

The ban was aimed at riders wearing Halloween or ski masks and officials had not considered religious dress, Rapid bus system spokeswoman Jennifer Kalczuk said. The rule was issued earlier this year so that an on-board camera system could help identify riders if there is a disturbance.

The veil is not an Islamic religious dress but a radical Muslim political statement and Muslim scholars admit that. In fact, the veil is banned in many Islamic countries for that reason. Officials are right to ban them.