Germany’s highest court ruled Wednesday that ultra-conservative Muslim citizens must participate in mixed gender swimming classes.
The court ruling comes after the family of an 11-year-old Muslim girl sued a school system after they argued even wearing a Burkini violates Islamic standards of dress for women.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is launching a bid for re-election, came out Tuesday against a ban on fully veiled burkas sometimes worn by ultra-conservative Muslims.
“The full-face veil is not acceptable in our country,” she declared. “It should be banned, wherever it is legally possible.”
Germany’s Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière told the German parliament Tuesday that face veils are “contrary to integration,” and the ban would be in effect in “places where it is necessary for our society’s coexistence.” These areas would include government offices, public transportation hubs and universities.
Cultural integration of Muslim citizens and refugees is a hot button issue throughout Germany. German pools were forced to hire burly security guards in black uniforms to deter Muslim refugees from touching women in September, after a variety of sexual assault incidents.
In some cases, German girls have taken to wearing temporary tattoos at public pools that say “no” to stop unwanted sexual attention. A leaked German police report from July reveals that “sexual offences are recording a huge increase.”
The report continued, “In particular, offenses of rape and sexual abuse of children in bathing establishments is significant,” according to the report. The police report identifies the offenders as “for the most part immigrants.”
In January 2016, refugees seeking asylum were also tied to dozens of sexual assaults in major cities across Germany. The incident significantly sparked public opinion against migration to Germany.
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