Germany, which has become famous for opening its arms to Muslim refugees, is now sounding a less tolerant note.
A group of German lawmakers announced a proposal Friday to ban the controversial burka—the full-face Islamic veil that also covers the entire body—in certain venues. The proposal comes a day after the legislators conceded that a full ban would be unconstitutional under Germany’s religious freedom laws.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the Islamic attire was incompatible with Germany’s values, and a threat to integration and social cohesion. “We reject the full veil—not just the burka but the other forms of full veil where only the eyes are visible,” said de Maiziere during a press conference.
“It doesn’t fit in with our open society. Showing the face is a constituent element for our communication, the way we live, our social cohesion. That is why we call on everyone to show their face,” he added.
The proposed ban would apply in public places where facial identification is mandatory, such as public offices, schools, universities, nurseries and while driving.
The move comes amid growing public concern about the integration of more than 1 million mostly male refugees in Germany over the past year, following a string of migrant-linked crimes and two grisly terrorist attacks claimed by ISIS. Most of the new refugees being resettled in Germany are Muslims, from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries.
The bill would need to be approved by the parliament before becoming law. If passed, Germany would become the third European country where Muslim women’s full-veil is banned nationwide. France and Belgium are the other two.
Many countries across the continent, including France, are still wrestling with the issue of Islamic clothing in various forms—including the burkini (a swimsuit version of the burqa, where the face remains visible) and the hijab (the Muslim headscarf that only covers the hair).
