Albania to allow headscarf ID photos

Authorities in Albania have decided to allow Muslim women to wear headscarves while being photographed for ID cards. Albania began issuing new identity cards this month, but Muslim community leaders to complained that the government's passport agency was not allowing headscarf photos.

Interior Ministry spokesman Fatmir Konja said Friday that such photos will be accepted as long at the headscarves do not obscure a person's facial features. Albania is mostly Muslim with large Orthodox Christian and Roman Catholic minorities. Practicing religion was banned until Communism fell in 1990.

Albania has begun issuing new IDs and biometric passports and hopes to adopt international standards for identity documents.