Muslim women can wear headscarf on British passport photos

Muslim women will be allowed to cover their heads with the hijab, or headscarf, on their passport photographs under new Home Office guidelines.

The new guidelines are the result of Fareena Alam's case - she was refused a new passport because she was wearing a hijab on her photograph.

After she protested, she was given a new passport - even though she was wearing a headscarf, The Times reports.

The new guidelines state that: "Provided that photographs show the full face... photographs should not be rejected where a religious head covering is worn."

Saturday 19th August 2000.

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