A follower of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster claims he was discriminated against when he was told he may no longer wear a colander on his head in a driver 's licence photo . Last year , Preshalin Moodley , 20 , was issued a provisional driver 's licence by staff at Service NSW Parramatta , in Sydney 's west . He was photographed for the licence wearing the spaghetti strainer on his head after asking staff whether it was OK to wear a religious symbol . Preshalin Moodley , 20 , was issued a provisional driver 's licence last year while wearing a spaghetti strainer on his head , which he said is a symbol of his religion , the Church of the Flying Spaghetti monster . ' I put my colander on . She just stared at me , did n't say anything , ' Mr Moodley recalled . In an apparent poke at organised religion , Pastafarians say they believe in the 'spaghetti monster ' and adherents say their religion is as legitimate as any other . Mr Moodley received a letter from Service NSW last Tuesday , March 3 , and was informed he would have to have his licence reissued so a 'photograph can be retaken without any item on your head ' . 'Roads and Maritime Services ( RMS ) have advised that this photograph does not meet the current requirements , as you were wearing a colander on your head , ' the letter to Mr Moodley said . 'The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is not a recognized ( sic ) religion and as such the wearing of the colander in this photograph does not meet current requirements . ' It warned 'further action may taken ' if he failed to comply . Mr Moodley is pictured here with a plastic colander on his head . A 'Pastafarian ' , the western Sydney resident has started an online petition requesting Roads Minister Duncan Gay . Mr Moodley , a science student at the University of Western Sydney , said he was 'frustrated ' and surprised by the demand and has pledged to fight the ruling . 'They do n't do this to any other religion , ' he said . His supporters have started an online petition calling for Pastafarians to be allowed to 'wear their religious headwear and observe their religion as they see fit ' . 'Even though it looks like a joke and ( that ) we 're trying to take the mickey out of them , we 're completely serious , ' Mr Moodley said . 'To an outsider who does n't know our goals , we look like a bunch of crazy people wearing colanders , eating spaghetti , and drinking beer . 'We 're completely serious about what we 're doing and I would not go this far for a practical joke . We really want Pastafarianism to be treated as equally as Islam , Christianity , Hinduism , etc . Mr Moodley secured media attention after managing to obtain his license with the colander on his head last year . 'When it came to getting my photo done , I asked if religious headwear was allowed in the photo . She ( the staff member ) said yes . ' I put the colander on . She just stared at me did n't say anything . I put it on and that was it . ' This a popular artistic interpretation of the so-called 'Flying Spaghetti Monster ' , who is hailed as a diety in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster - which is generally seen as a light-hearted parody of religion . A Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman confirmed this letter , sent to Mr Moodley , was legitimate . 'Followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster movement , known as Pastafarians , are not part of a religion recognised in NSW or other areas of Australia , ' a Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman said . 'For facial recognition security reasons , colanders must therefore be removed before licence photos can be taken ' A Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman confirmed Mr Moodley was sent the letter . 'Religious headwear can be worn in driver licence photographs for recognised religions , ' the spokeswoman said . 'Followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster movement , known as Pastafarians , are not part of a religion recognised in NSW or other areas of Australia . 'For facial recognition security reasons , colanders must therefore be removed before licence photos can be taken . ' Mr Moodley said : ‘ If the RMS wants to terminate my licence I say go for it . I do n't mind taking public transport ... They ca n't really put me on jail or anything . ’
Man was granted a provisional licence last year while he was photographed with a colander on his head . The man has since been charged and is due to appear in court next month.