Should women be allowed to wear a Niqāb, or face veil, to civic ceremonies?

Several Western countries including France, Spain and Canada have proposed laws which would ban Muslim women from wearing a Niqab in public spaces. A niqab is a cloth that covers the face and is worn by some Muslim women in public areas. In 2016 German interior minister Thomas de Maiziere proposed a partial ban of the burqa. de Maiziere said that the face veil does not belong in Germany society, where more than four million Muslims live, calling the proposed ban a "preventive measure". The minister said the ban would apply to "places where it is necessary for our society…  's coexistence", including government offices, schools and universities, courtrooms, demonstrations and while driving vehicles. Proponents argue that the ban infringes on individual rights and prevents people from expressing their religious beliefs. Opponents argue that face-coverings prevent the clear identification of a person, which is both a security risk, and a social hindrance within a society which relies on facial recognition and expression in communication.