German lawmakers have approved a burka ban for public sector workers as part of a package of measures designed to stop extremist attacks.

The Bundestag parliament voted through the law, which demands that the appearance of anybody who works for the government be “religiously neutral”.

The legislation follows several Islamic terrorist attacks, including one in December where a jihadist used a truck to ram through a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people.

It also comes as Germany readies itself for national elections this September. The legislation must pass Germany’s upper legislative chamber before becoming law.

The ban will apply to civil servants including election authorities, the military and judicial staff while they are at work, the German DPA press agency reported.

It fell short of a total ban in public spaces as demanded by right-wing parties in Germany.

The text of the legislation said: “The state has a duty to present itself in an ideologically and religiously neutral manner.”

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the partial burka ban is about social integration of immigrants which requires “that we make clear and communicate our values and the limits of our tolerance to other cultures.”

The law prohibiting facial coverings allows certain exceptions – for instance, health workers protecting themselves against infections or police officers concealing their identity.

The law also gives powers to authorities to ask people to remove their facial coverings if they need to confirm their identity.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called to ban the burka since December last year, following the pressure from her party. During her party’s conference she urged to ban burka or niqab wherever possible.

She said: “With us, the rule is: show your face, that’s why the full veil is not appropriate, it should be banned.” </s> Denmark on Thursday followed in the footsteps of several European countries and introduced a ban on clothes that cover the face, including Islamic veils such as the burqa and niqab.

The ban, which will come into effect from August 1, was passed in the Danish Parliament in a 75-30 vote with 74 absentees, reported The Guardian. The law was presented by Denmark’s centre-right governing coalition. The government said the bill is not aimed at any religion and does not ban headscarves, turbans or the Jewish skull cap.

Those violating the law will have to pay a fine of 1,000 kroner (Rs 10,595). During the weeks-long parliamentary procedure, the government removed a provision allowing prison sentences as potential punishment for breaking the law, reported The Local Denmark.

“[The] Parliament has clearly stated that the burqa and niqab do not belong in Denmark,” said Danish People’s Party spokesperson Martin Henriksen. “They are incompatible with Danish culture and the foundations on which Denmark is built.”

Justice Minister Soren Pape Poulsen in April said the Danish police will not forcibly remove veils from women. “If they live nearby, they will be asked to go home,” Poulsen had said.

The law, popularly known as the “burqa ban”, is seen as being directed at the dress worn by some Muslim women. Few Muslim women in Denmark wear full-face veils, reported The Guardian.

The burqa has become a political issue in several major European countries. France became the first country in Europe to ban the burqa in 2011, followed by Belgium. The Netherlands approved a partial burqa ban in public spaces such as hospitals and schools in 2016, whereas Austria banned the use of burqa from October last year. In 2017, the German Parliament too voted in favour of a partial burqa ban. </s> Austria's governing coalition has agreed to prohibit full-face veils in courts, schools and other "public places" as part of a package of reforms drawn up after more than a week of negotiations.

The coalition of Social Democrats and the centrist People's party also agreed Monday to ban police officers, judges and magistrates and public prosecutors from wearing head scarves in the interest of appearing "ideologically and religiously neutral" while serving the state.

The French parliament passed an act more than six years ago that made France the first European Union country to ban the niqab and burqa, the full-face or face-and-body coverings worn by some Muslim women, in public places. Others have followed.
The Bundestag approves a ban on burqas being worn by members of the German civil service.