Close X
Sunday, September 22, 2024
ADVT 
International

Muslim Women Must Pass English Test To Stay In England: David Cameron

IANS, 19 Jan, 2016 12:06 PM
    Some migrants to Britain who cannot pass an English test within 2-1/2 years of arriving may not be allowed to stay, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday in a move aimed at fostering greater integration by Muslim women.
     
    Cameron said there were 190,000 British Muslim women who spoke little or no English and Britain needed to take on the “backward attitudes” of some men whom he said exerted damaging control over their wives, sisters and daughters.
     
    “Someone can move to here with very basic English and there’s no requirement to improve it over time. We will change that. We will now say: if you don’t improve your fluency, that could affect your ability to stay in the UK,” Cameron wrote in an article for the Times newspaper.
     
     
    “This will help make it clear to those men who stop their partners from integrating that there are consequences.” 
     
    The government will invest 20 million pounds ($28 million) in English classes for women in isolated communities, and from October, this year, will begin testing those who have come in to Britain on a spousal visa to check if their language skills have improved. 
     
    Cameron said while there was no direct causal link between poor English language skills and extremism, those who were not able to integrate into British society were at risk of being more susceptible to extremist ideologies. 
     
    “Separate development and accepting practices that go against our values only emphasise differences and can help prompt the search of something to belong to,” he wrote. 
     
    But his comments were criticised by Muslim groups, who said the British leader was “denigrating” Muslims rather than working with communities to help tackle extremism. 
     
    “The Prime Minister David Cameron and his Conservative government are once again using British Muslims as a political football to score cheap points to appear tough,” said Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation. 
     
    “Rather than focusing on the positive contribution of our faith and community he focuses on the extreme minority of issues which clearly is not representative.” 

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Over 100 South Asian Immigrant Detainees On Hunger Strike At Three Detention Centres In US

    Over 100 South Asian Immigrant Detainees On Hunger Strike At Three Detention Centres In US
      Most of the hunger strikers are Bangladeshi. They also include detainees from India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Togo.

    Over 100 South Asian Immigrant Detainees On Hunger Strike At Three Detention Centres In US

    Canada's Outspoken Miss World Contestant Denied Entry To China To Compete In Pageant

    Canada's Outspoken Miss World Contestant Denied Entry To China To Compete In Pageant
    Canada's outspoken Miss World contestant said she was barred Thursday from entering China to take part in this year's pageant and accused Beijing of overreach in extending its campaign of censorship even to beauty contests.

    Canada's Outspoken Miss World Contestant Denied Entry To China To Compete In Pageant

    Australia's Biggest Hindu Temple To Open On November 30

    Australia's Biggest Hindu Temple To Open On November 30
    Sri Durga Temple, Australia's biggest Hindu temple, is ready for its grand opening on November 30, a media report said here on Thursday.

    Australia's Biggest Hindu Temple To Open On November 30

    B.C., Alaska Sign Cross-border Mining Collaboration Pact

    B.C., Alaska Sign Cross-border Mining Collaboration Pact
    Premier Christy Clark and Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signed the deal that formalizes commitments to protect transboundary rivers, watersheds and fisheries.

    B.C., Alaska Sign Cross-border Mining Collaboration Pact

    I Was Misquoted On Gandhi And Partition: Wendy Doniger

    Acclaimed American Indologist Wendy Doniger claims she was misquoted on her remarks about Mahatma Gandhi and the 1947 partition of India.

    I Was Misquoted On Gandhi And Partition: Wendy Doniger

    Cargo Ship Resumes Southbound Journey After Losing Power Off Haida Gwaii

    Cargo Ship Resumes Southbound Journey After Losing Power Off Haida Gwaii
    VANCOUVER — A troubled cargo carrier travelling south along the British Columbia coast has managed to restart its engines after several hours adrift.

    Cargo Ship Resumes Southbound Journey After Losing Power Off Haida Gwaii