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Austrian Can Wear Pasta Strainer in License Photo

He claims it's a symbol of his religion—pastafarianism

By Tim Karan,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 13, 2011 2:37 PM CDT

(Newser) – Hopefully his car never breaks down in a thunderstorm. An Austrian atheist has won the right to don a pasta strainer on his head in his driver's license photo, reports the BBC. Austrians are permitted to wear headgear in official photographs only for religious reasons, and Niko Alm claims the sieve is a symbol of his religion—pastafarianism.

Alm claims to be a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster—a joke "religion" that began in the US in response to pressure on schools to teach intelligent design. (Mediaite has more background on it, and how the joke took off worldwide.) It took three years for Alm's license to be approved, pending the results of a medical interview stating he was "mentally fit" to drive. Click to see a photo of the unusual license.

An Austrian man has won the right to wear a pasta strainer in his driver's license photo.
An Austrian man has won the right to wear a pasta strainer in his driver's license photo.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 22 comments
Riffran
Jul 14, 2011 12:43 AM CDT
Is there a pastafarian holy day ? I want to mark it on my colander : )
DontLikeYou
Jul 13, 2011 7:15 PM CDT
A spaghetti strainer?  That dude has serious issues beyond his religion of Atheism.
Count-Spatula
Jul 13, 2011 5:51 PM CDT
If we can't wear strainers on our heads, the anti-spaghetti monster forces have already won. (And I've been touched by his noodley appendage.)
 

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