A recent YouGov poll suggests that the vast majority of Germans would like some sort of ban on wearing a burqa or niqab in public. Sixty-two percent of respondents said that they thought a law banning the wearing of a full veil and face covering should be introduced, and only 27 percent of respondents were against this sort of law.
Unlike a hijab, which covers the hair and neck of a woman, a burqa or niqab covers the entire face and leaves only the eyes visible.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently said that while she's opposed to a burqa ban in her country, their presence probably isn't helping Muslims integrate into German society.
French courts recently suspended bans on the "burkini," a garment similar to a wetsuit with a skirt that some women like to wear to the beach. Burqas are already banned in public in France and similar bans are being considered in other European countries.