A man’s religious rights are being squashed by British Columbia insurance company.
Obi Canuel is an ordained minister in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster — and really who isn’t these days — and he’s claiming the Insurance Corporation of B.C. is denying him the right to wear a spaghetti strainer on his head in his driver’s license photo.
Here’s what it’s boiling (PUN!) down to:
The 36-year-old says he believed he would be able to wear the kitchen accessory when he renewed his licence last fall because ICBC affirms the right to religious expression.
But, the insurer disagreed. In a letter, they told him “there is no religious requirement that prohibits you from removing the colander for the purpose of taking the photo to appear on your driver’s license.”
ICBC said its religious head covering policy strive to strike a balance between respect for the driver’s religious beliefs and a need to preserve the integrity of the licensing system.
No driver’s insurance, no legal driving, and Obi will miss all his Flying Spaghetti Monster obligations like…man, I wonder what the hell those people do at church.
Obi is arguing his case for religious freedom and because he was allowed to wear a colander for his BC driver’s license.
[via CTV News]