A Muslim woman has sought the help of an attorney in hopes of a lawsuit against oil magnet, Chevron.

According to news sources, LaFleur Mauvette Mohamed is seeking damages relating to a claim that, back in October 2011, she was unable to purchase gas at a local Chevron station because she refused to remove her niqab for identification purposes at the request of the Chevron cashier. Mohamed claims this was a violation of her religious rights. In response to the complaint, Chevron supported the decision of the cashier: The incident occurred within a few days of Halloween, a time when retailers are prone to increased theft from persons wearing masks and facial coverings. In light of this concern, we acknowledge that our employee did ask Ms. Mohamed to remove her veil for security purposes. This was not Ms. Mohamed's first instance with her veil posing an issue. One month earlier, Ms. Mohamed was arrested on a domestic violence charge when her daughter, the complainant, claimed that Ms. Mohamed repeatedly wrestled with her over a cellphone and slapped her as well. When Ms. Mohamed initially had her mug shot, she kept her niqab (veil) on. According to the Sheriff's department, the jail staffer erred on the side of caution over concern about religious freedom and Ms. Mohamed eventually had her mug shot retaken, this time showing her face, as per jail protocol. When approached for comment as to whether or not she minded having to remove her veil, Ms. Mohamed offered no comment. Apparently it didn't bother her so much back then. This isn't the first time a Muslim woman thought her religious rights trumped the safety of others. And it doesn't only happen in America. In 2010, Australia came face to face with a legal Catch-22 when Carnita Matthews was pulled over for a routine traffic stop. Ms. Matthews subsequently filed a complaint against the officer, claiming that he assaulted her by forcing her to remove her niqab. A claim that proved to be a lie when the officer produced the video recording taken during the encounter. To be honest, after watching the video, it seems more like Ms. Matthews was abusing the officer rather than the other way around. Her sentence of 6 months was suspended, however, when her attorney successfully argued that there's no way of knowing if the woman in the video and the woman in the courtroom were actually the same person, since nobody could see the face of the woman in the video! Over the years I've heard Muslim women argue that wearing the niqab or burka (two different things) is a basic fundamental right under the Constitution free exercise of religion clause. Some even go so far as to claim that denying women the right to wear the niqab or burka goes against feminist principles. What these apologists for extremism seem to not realize is that in America (and most western countries) there's such a thing as community standards of dress. In the USA it's determined by States and then, individual counties or cities. And businesses are likewise granted leeway in attire standards as well. Most of us have gone to a restaurant with the sign No Shirt. No Shoes. No Service mounted on the door.

Where I live we simply call it common sense. Should there be an anything goes when it comes to attire? Should religions get a pass when others, like groups or clubs, or sports enthusiasts, may not? If that's to be the case, then Wiccans (who like to go skyclad for ceremonial purposes) could make the same argument. The law grants us rights under the Constitution but these rights are regulated rights. For example, a person has the right to vote, according to the Constitution. But a three-year-old isn't allowed to vote in any election. The second amendment allows citizens the right to own a fire arm, but municipalities regulate who may or may not purchase them and what kinds may or may not be purchased by citizens. As a woman who, for religious reasons, wears a head-covering (a Christian covering), I don't have issues with a woman opting to cover her hair and ears. Where I have to draw the line, as an American and a woman, is this notion that there's a right to hide one's identity for religious reasons. I believe it not only endangers others, but potentially places the wearer in danger. So what's to be done about this dilemma? One option is for those Muslims who want niqabs and burkas to flow freely, to begin living in communal situations similar to the Amish, Jewish Ultra-Orthodox Haredim, and Hutterite peoples. And maybe that would be the best way to go if they want to maintain such a separatism. But don't come back later and complain about being marginalized. The other option is to make specific codes as to where, when and how these styles may be worn. This is already starting, as drivers' bureaus, courts and jails begin to face the problem. This insanity needs to stop. Muslim women must stop making themselves seem ridiculous if they hope to be accepted into western society. Nobody expects them to go outside with their heads uncovered. Nobody expects them to don miniskirts or short-shorts, either. What is expected is that Muslim women living in the West realize that their religion is one of many religions dotting the landscape of America and to act accordingly. To do anything less, and to demand that you be allowed to do what others cannot do, is a selfish way to approach a larger community.