Merkel says full Islamic veil should be banned in Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel received thunderous applause when she announced at her party's annual congress today that she wanted the full veil to be banned.

Merkel is seeking a fourth term as German chancellor and started presenting her strategy for her campaign at the Christian Democratic Union congress in Essen, where her party is expected to re-elect her as party chief.

"The same laws apply for everyone in Germany. For everyone without exception. Our rights have priority over tribal laws and Sharia laws," Merkel said at the conference according to German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine. "Part of this is that here, we show our faces. The full veil is not appropriate here and should be forbidden."

Merkel is facing a tough re-election battle as her approval numbers have plummeted as Germans grew increasingly wary of her welcome policy for refugees.

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