Germany's Merkel Pushes for Nationwide Burqa Ban

“The full veil is not appropriate here,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday at her party’s gathering in Essen. “It should be forbidden wherever that is legally possible. It does not belong to us.”

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has also called to ban the full-face veil, saying in August that the concealing garment “does not fit into our society for us, for our communication, for our cohesion in the society… This is why we demand you show your face.” 

Merkel’s speech comes weeks after the announcement that she will run for a fourth term and months after her party lost a string of local elections. 

Merkel’s initial attitude towards immigration has angered many voters, including those within her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and the chancellor knows that this election will be her toughest yet. 

Germany took in roughly 890,000 asylum-seekers in 2015, and Merkel stresses the fact that this won’t happen again: “A situation like the one in the late summer of 2015 cannot, should not, and must not be repeated,” she said. “That was and is our, and my, declared political aim.” 

Despite her mistakes, the 62-year-old chancellor is an attractive choice for those seeking stability amidst uncertain times brought on by the Brexit vote, Trump’s election, and the rise of several populist movements across Europe. 

Author’s Note: As I wrote earlier this month, Germany has already been forced to tighten its sexual assault laws following a sharp in increase in crime linked to massive immigration.

While I agree that citizens of any country should not be allowed to walk around with only their eyes showing, Merkel’s push to change German law is another example of how her own mistakes combined with the Muslim culture are limiting the freedom of others. 

Editor’s note: If Germany had an American style Constitution, this would be a breach. Germany is forced to abridge freedom in return for security.