But he acknowledged constitutional problems with a blanket burqa ban and said the proposal seeks only to prohibit face coverings "where showing the face has a function." He pointed out that Germany already bans wearing any kind of face covering at demonstrations, such as masks meant to hide protesters' identities. Among the loudest advocates were the conservative interior ministers of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, which both hold state elections next month. There has been criticism from some even within their own party, however, who view the election-season focus on a burqa ban as a distraction from more important issues. De Maiziere acknowledged the face veil was not a security issue and also that "overall it's not a big problem in Germany."

Source: Fox News August 19, 2016 10:33 UTC