'Pastafarian' woman wears spaghetti strainer in driving licence picture claiming it's 'religious headwear'

Oklahoma: A woman has been allowed to wear a spaghetti strainer on her head for a driving licence photo after insisting it was part of her religious beliefs.

Atheist turned Pastafarian Shawna Hammond agreed to take off her glasses for the picture, but was adamant she should wear the kitchen utensil.

Oklahoma state rules say that religious headpieces are permitted providing they do not cause shadows and do not obstruct the view of the face.

Stunned driving office workers were left bemused and sent into hysterics by the choice of headwear and went on to question the unusual beliefs.

She told News Channel 4: “I asked if I could wear my religious headwear and he said, yes, it just couldn’t have any logos, or any type of writing. I told him it didn’t, and I went out to my car and got my colander.

“She kind of chuckled, she giggled, gave me a funny look and asked me what religion I was. I told her I was a Pastafarian.”

Quirky youngster Hammond believes that the spaghetti strainer is a sign of freedom since following Pastafarianism in 2005.

According to the churches website, it has “no strict rules and regulations, there are no rote rituals and prayers and other nonsense."

Hammond said: “For me the colander represents freedom, our freedom of religion, and to whatever religion we prefer or lack of religion. It was important to me to exercise that, even if it’s just a driver’s license photo."

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol is in control of the driver's licence department and will conduct a full review of the picture to make sure it is following the rules.

If it passes the regulations, authorities could be forced into changing the law.