‘Pastafarian’ told: Remove colander for licence picture
A MUSICIAN has accused the DVLA of religious discrimination after his driving licence photograph was rejected because he had a colander on his head.
Ian Harris said he was ‘insulted’ by the rejection and claimed the utensil was part of his beliefs.
The 51-year-old is a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, whose followers – ‘pastafarians’ – wear spaghetti strainers as a religious symbol.
The movement was founded to protest against the teaching of creationism in US schools and has been officially recognised as a faith in some countries.
Mr Harris, of Hove, East Sussex has appealed against the DVLA’s decision. He said: ‘ The DVLA implied the picture would damage its credibility because the religion has a comic edge to it, which I found insulting.’
But the agency says he will have to submit a new application for his licence with ‘ an appropriate photo’.
It said in a letter: ‘ You will appreciate that we must work within a framework set by law and the decisions have to be in line with the legislation. Therefore, we may not always be able to meet your expectations.’
A spokesman added: ‘Headgear is generally not acceptable but may be permissible on religious or medical grounds and any exemptions are dealt with on a case by case basis.’
The church, which describes itself as the world’s fastest-growing carbohydrate-based religion, teaches that a supernatural entity made of spaghetti and meatballs created the universe ‘after drinking heavily’ and that Fridays are sacred.