German minister proposes burqa ban in public places

Germany’s interior minister Thomas de Maiziere on Friday proposed partially banning the full-face burqa Islamic veil, as a debate on integration rages after two jihadist attacks and ahead of key state elections.

The call by De Maiziere comes as the government attempts to address public fears surrounding last year’s record influx of nearly 1.1 million migrants and refugees, most from predominantly Muslim countries and regions.

It also echoed a controversial decision by several French towns in recent weeks to outlaw burkinis, the full-body Islamic swimsuit, at a sensitive time for relations with the Muslim community following a series of Islamist attacks.

De Maiziere said that the burqa ban would cover “places where it is necessary for our society’s coexistence” including government offices, schools and universities, courtrooms, demonstrations and behind the wheel.

He said that the full-face veil “does not belong in our cosmopolitan country,” adding that it was “not a security issue but an integration issue.”