More than 80 per cent of Germans support ban on burqas in public places, survey finds

Only 15 per cent of respondents opposed any restrictions

Angela Merkel has claimed women who wear burqas have 'no chance of integrating' (iStock)

Four out of five German people think the burqa should be banned in a number of public places, according to a survey conducted for German broadcaster ARD.

Of over 1,000 respondents, 81 per cent said they were in favour of legislation that would ban anyone from wearing a burqa within public institutions. More than half said they were in favour of a total ban.

Just 15 per cent of German respondents said they did not think any sort of burqa ban should be put in place.

Security officials in Germany have proposed a ban on wearing burqas in some public places, such as in schools, universities and in court, but Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has opposed a blanket ban due to constitutional issues.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has previously said that a “completely covered woman has almost no chance of integrating herself in Germany” but opposes a ban.

Heated debate over aspects of some Muslim attire have broken out in Europe after a number of French towns laid down bans on the ‘burkini’ – a term used to describe modest swimwear worn by Muslim women.

The bans have faced criticism from many quarters both inside and outside France

A French court has ruled at least one of the local bans to be “clearly illegal”, but right-wing politicians have promptly vowed to preserve the bans if elected.