German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives are to ask that the face veil be banned in schools, universities and while driving a vehicle.<br /><br /> Regional interior ministers belonging to Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and her Christian Social Union allies (CSU) are to make a declaration on tougher security measures, including more police and greater surveillance in public areas.<br /><br /> The ban involves all types of head coverings obstructing a clear view of the face.<br /><br /> However, Muslim women wearing the burqa and niqab will be particularly affected.<br /><br /> The party’s call for a partial ban on the burqa and niqab suggests they represent a lack of integration, an inferior social categorisation of women and could pose security risks.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Key Angela Merkel ally calls for a partial burka ban in Germany https://t.co/ofEPCOJNLn— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 19, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Is this now the law in Germany, then?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Not yet.<br /><br /> The CDU proposals must be adopted by the government before they can become law. <br /><br /> The debate over a ban on the face veil has divided Merkel’s governing coalition. Her Social Democrat (SPD) junior coalition partners are largely against the demands.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The politics<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The CDU’s calls for a partial ban come as it has lost support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AFD) party.<br /><br /> The party says Islam is incompatible with the constitution and wants to ban the burqa and minarets on mosques.<br /><br /> The AFD is expected to perform well in regional elections in Berlin and the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in September.<br /><br /> SPD Labour Minister Andrea Nahles has described calls for a ban as a sign of an “increasingly xenophobic” discourse in Germany.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Islam and the veil in Germany<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Germany is home to nearly four million Muslims, around five percent of the total population.<br /><br /> There are no official statistics on the number of women wearing the burqa in Germany.<br /><br /> A 2009 study by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees found that more than two-thirds of Muslim women in Germany did not even wear a headscarf.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Austria and the veil<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Austria has 600,000 Muslim citizens<br /><br /> Equivalent of 7% of population<br /><br /> Austria’s conservative politicians called for a ban on full body veils on Thursday, saying they would prevent women from integrating into Austrian society.<br /><br /> The country’s Foreign and Integration Minister, Sebastian Kurz from the centrist People’s Party, plans to introduce a new integration law next year.<br /><br /> Kurz said religious symbols like the burqa are an issue that needs to be discussed.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Austria leads? Will German ministers push to follow Austrian FM Kurz's call to ban full body veil? #sebastiankurzhttps://t.co/pSAhCkfCD9— Michael Burri (@Michael__Burri) August 18, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> France and the veil<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Largest Muslim minority in Europe<br /><br /> Five million Muslim citizens<br /><br /> Full-face niqab and burqa ban in public from 2010<br /><br /> Controversy currently focusing on “burkini” full-body swimsuit<br /><br /> Publice debate about a ban on full body veils was ignited in several European countries after three French Mediterranean cities banned body-covering “burkini” swimwear.<br /><br /> Their argument is it defies French laws on secularism.<br /><br /> France, which at five million has the largest Muslim minority in Europe, introduced a ban on full-face niqab and burqa veils in public in 2010.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Fact Check<br /><br /> * The burqa covers the face and body <br /><br /> * The niqab covers the hair and face, except for the eyes<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What they are saying<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> “We unanimously reject the burqa. It does not fit with our liberal-minded society. We have agreed that we want to make it a legal requirement to show your face in places where it is necessary for the cohesion of our society,” – German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere.<br />
