Four out of five German people think the burqa should be banned in a number of public places, according to a survey conducted for German broadcaster ARD.
Of over 1,000 respondents, 81 per cent said they were in favour of legislation that would ban anyone from wearing a burqa within public institutions. More than half said they were in favour of a total ban.
Just 15 per cent of German respondents said they did not think any sort of burqa ban should be put in place.
Security officials in Germany have proposed a ban on wearing burqas in some public places, such as in schools, universities and in court, but Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has opposed a blanket ban due to constitutional issues.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has previously said that a “completely covered woman has almost no chance of integrating herself in Germany” but opposes a ban.
Heated debate over aspects of some Muslim attire have broken out in Europe after a number of French towns laid down bans on the ‘burkini’ – a term used to describe modest swimwear worn by Muslim women.
The bans have faced criticism from many quarters both inside and outside France
A French court has ruled at least one of the local bans to be “clearly illegal”, but right-wing politicians have promptly vowed to preserve the bans if elected.
