Pakistani-German women describe life in Germany following calls for ban on burqa

As Germany considers ban on full-face veil, public debate revolves around religious freedom and women’s rights

Returning from her vocational school in Munich, Maria Siddiqui waited for her tram at a station when a man shouted at her: go back to Syria! Born and raised in Europe, Pakistani-German Siddiqui experiences hate crime in her own country because of her dressing style which includes a full-face veil. For her, such hostilities date back to when she was only 12 years old as she started covering her face. Now 25 years old, not much has changed for her in this regard.

Across Europe, states have struggled with the issue of full-face veil. The social debates revolve around religious freedom, equality and secular traditions of Europe and with the phenomenon of terrorism now being added to the discussion.



In Germany, there have been many calls for a ban on burqa; in August 2016, German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere proposed a plan to proscribe full-face veil in public and recently, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever it is legally possible.

PHOTO: MARIA SIDDIQUI

German public servants and teachers are not allowed to wear any religious garb or symbol to maintain separation between church and state but there has been no nationwide ban on niqab or burqa prior to these proposals. The entire continent, and especially Germany, seems divided on the issue; on one hand, there are many advocates for multiculturalism and religious freedom as guaranteed by the constitution, while on the other hand some argue that veil contradicts with women’s rights and freedom. France and Belgium have already successfully placed a ban on full-face veils and many other European countries have imposed partial bans initiated by the local governments.

Veil across Europe

According to Siddiqui , there are many Muslim women who might give up hijab after a legal ban but some, who wear it as part of their belief, will end up being restricted to their homes and not being able to enter the public sphere without consequences and fines. “I cover my face not by choice but because my parents want me to but not everyone is forced and that is why I am against a legal ban. For instance, my elder sister wears veil because of her beliefs; she might not leave home if a ban is imposed. This would actually restrict her movement,” she argues.

Local journalist Theresa Locker agrees with the assessment, adding that though Germans will welcome the move by proclaiming it as protecting the “freedom for Muslim women”, in reality it will limit their movement. “If we just accept the argument that Muslim women are forced to wear niqab or burqa by their parents or husbands, then after this ban, we can assume they would actually not be allowed to go out at all,” Locker deduces.

PHOTO: MARIA SIDDIQUI

Shazia Afzal, a German doctor of Pakistani lineage, believes niqab and burqa are part of cultural and social norms rather than religious and says Germans should not be afraid of an individual’s personal choice of dressing. The 31-year-old hopes that the German society would overcome the hatred and fear of Muslims. “A legal ban will create more distance between different cultures. I understand that burqa and niqab are not part of the European tradition but imposing values on others is as bad as Germans blaming Muslims for not integrating into the society completely,” she says.

Interestingly, not all Muslims disagree with the ban proposal. Quratulain Asad, a 34-year-old German woman of Pakistani origin, calls the ban a “fair move”. A house wife, Asad wears a headscarf herself but believes covering the face is neither Islamic nor compatible with the German society. “When we all know that full face veil evokes fear in the society and since we are now facing a series of terror attacks, we should avoid burqa,” Asad asserts.

Women rights and oppression

Though many Muslim women choose to wear full-face veil, it is seen as a symbol of oppression in the German society. Siddiqui says that hatred for full-face veil has been growing immensely for the last few years. “People look at us now more suspiciously; they think we are bad or unpleasant or we are criminals and we should not be here, as if it’s not our country,” Siddiqui shares.

For Germans, journalist Locker says, full-face veil is indeed a strange concept. “If I see somebody in burqa, I would feel strange. It’s hard to speak to a person without looking at them,” Locker shares her personal perspective.



As the debate over veil rages in Germany, Islamic scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamidi says western countries should avoid imposing harsh laws regarding clothing. “A state should make laws only in two situations: firstly to stop rights violations and secondly to protect people. However, the laws that western countries are now introducing are nonsensical. I personally think it’s a violation of basic human rights. As far as security is concerned, in some circumstances, if a Muslim woman is asked to show her face for identity, then, it is legitimate and women should comply,” the scholar explains.

Growing Islamophobia

For the last one and a half year, Germany has given refuge to almost a million people, mostly Muslims while at the same time the frequency of terror attacks in Germany and Western Europe has increased sharply. Most of the attacks are claimed by the so-called Islamic State and were carried out by Muslim refugees. This, of course, has contributed to the fear in general public regarding Muslims. Far right parties and movements are exaggerating the whole situation for their popularity and they are consequently gaining record public support.

PHOTO: MARIA SIDDIQUI

As the general German public seems not to be at ease with full-face veil, they are likely to back the ban. Journalist Locker calls it a “poker move” on government’s part.  “There are not so many Muslim women in Germany who wear full-face veil. The proposed ban is an extremely symbolic step and doesn’t affect many people at all. It’s a move which actually looks like an attempt by Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union to approach far right voters,” Locker says.

Tom Weichert, who spent many years in the Muslim world including Pakistan as he worked for the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), agrees. “This is another way to satisfy right wing voters but the problem is that it would hit the core of multicultural German society,” he warns.

According to Weichert, who is now associated with the German office for migrants and refugees, freedom for women could only be achieved by empowering them socially and financially and not by imposing bans. “Far right parties employ fear as a tool to gain popularity. I think the original threat for the German society is not the Muslims but those far right parties who are pursuing the path of isolation and hatred,” Weichert says.

But 37-year-old social scientist Kate Wiesenberger believes that Germans want to send a strong message to the Muslim community that they should preserve the Western and especially German social values. “A general perception in Germany is that if Europeans go to any Muslim country, they are expected to follow the social norms of that place and yet those expectations change when Muslims come to Europe. This has contributed into a growing confrontation. Then, the terrorist attacks in Europe and the silence of the so-called “moderate” Muslim community further enhanced this mistrust,” Wiesenberger explains.



Islamic scholar Ghamidi also believes that it is primarily the responsibility of the Muslim community to engage with others and to eradicate the fear and threat that West feels from Islam and Muslims. “When it comes to terrorism, Muslims should strongly condemn and make others realise that the entire community should not be isolated because of how a few members behave. And if Muslims don’t want to condemn the attacks and employ ifs and buts, they should leave those societies,” he says.

Atif Tauqeer is a freelance journalist based in Germany.