Merkel calls for ban on ‘full veil’
— German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who last year opened the door to nearly one million mostly Muslim migrants, called Tuesday for a widespread ban on “full veil” Islamic coverings and pledged never to repeat her “open-door” refugee policy.
Speaking to a cheering conference of her centre-right Christian Democratic Union, Merkel — who is launching a bid for a fourth term in elections next year — used her strongest language yet to back a proposal by conservative elements in her party.
The plan would make it a regulatory offence for women to cover their faces in courtrooms, administrative buildings and schools, as well as while driving or attending demonstrations.
“Therefore the full veil is not appropriate here, it should be banned wherever it’s legally possible,” Merkel said.
The call echoes proposals in France and other European nations to put restrictions on full-face coverings such as the burka or other Islamic attire traditions for women such as the niqab, which shows only the eyes.
Her words at the party conference — reaffirming her as its candidate and leader — seemed aimed to appease her internal party critics who have charged her with recklessly opening the door to hundreds of thousands of Middle Eastern asylum seekers fleeing war.
— The Washington Post