On December 6th, 2016, councilor of Germany, Angela Merkel called for public ban of the full face veil, countering the Christian Democrat Party’s stance on the issue from the previous year. Councilor Merkel stated in a speech that:”Here [Germany] we say ‘show your face’. So full veiling is not appropriate here. It should be prohibited wherever legally possible.” This is clearly a call out to the populist and anti-refugee rhetoric that is spreading across Europe. The call brought a much needed advance in numbers for Merkel who is seeking reelection, and her announcement was greeted with a great deal of applause from over 1,000 delegates before her party conference vote.
In addition to her banning the full-face veil, Merkel added that a large influx of refugees as she voted for last year, would not happen again.
It is clear here that Merkel is worried about the rising right-wing surge in Germany and greater Europe. With Donald Trump elected as President in the United States only a month ago, it is a clear sign that a welcoming refugee platform is no longer welcome.
The question that arises when considering wether or not a full veil should be worn is the following: Do we choose security over freedom?
The freedom to wear a veil should, in my eyes, be with the woman who chooses to express her religion and culture in that manner. While there have been examples of veils being abused to pursuit greater evil, I believe that sacrificing freedom, is the greatest mistake humans can make. Especially in pursuit of a political agenda. As a woman and leader I admire, Merkel’s decision is dissapointing. In my eyes, it is far better to loose an election and keep hold of your values, instead of loosing your values in hopes of winning. If that latter is chosen, are you really the leader you fought so hard to become?
Agora: Watching the World Turn 