DAR AL HARB - GERMANY: "HEAD TO TOE BAGS" ARE NOT A EUROPEAN VALUE

Muslim full veil contradicts EU values, says German minister
By Lucia Kubosova

It should be up to member states rather than the EU to set rules for wearing full face veils but the practice runs against European values, Wolfgang Schaeuble, the interior minister of the German EU presidency, has said.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting in the European Parliament's civil liberties committee, Mr Schaeuble argued that communication is viewed as one of the responsibilities of European citizens and the full veils as worn by some Muslim women prevent this.

"The full veil runs contrary to the achievements of the European civilization," he said, adding "You cannot communicate with the person wearing it...Our communication is also to a great extent non-verbal."

He pointed out that his views on veils were personal rather than an official position of the presidency or German government.

The minister stressed that it would be an "incorrect understanding of tolerance if we were not brave enough to express ourselves on that" however.

The issue of whether or not a full face veil should be allowed has recently been a subject of hot debate across Europe.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Muslim full veil contradicts EU values, says German minister