German parliament backs partial burqa ban, Merkel says 'they're not appropriate in her country'

Berlin: Members of Germany's lower house of parliament have approved a law that partially bans the full-face Islamic veil or the burqa, the media reported on Friday.

Representational Image. Agencies

The bill will now go to the upper house.

Right-wing parties want Germany to emulate France where a total ban on wearing burqas in public places as has been in force since 2011.

Last December, Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a ban on full-face veils wherever legally possible, saying they were not appropriate in her country.

In February the state of Bavaria announced plans to ban the full-face veil in government workplaces, schools, universities and while driving, reports the BBC.

More than a million migrants including many Middle Eastern Muslims have entered Germany over the last 18 months.

The move follows several terror attacks, including one on a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives.

France, Austria, Belgium and Turkey have all imposed a ban in certain public spaces. Legislation supporting a ban is in progress in the Netherlands, while local bans apply in other nations including Denmark, Russia, Spain and Switzerland.