Muslim women's segregation in UK communities must end: Cameron

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Monday 18 Jan 2016 - 20:24 Makkah mean time-8-4-1437 Image from AFP London, (IINA) - A £20 million fund to teach Muslim women in the UK to speak English will tackle segregation and help them resist the lure of extremism, BBC reported, quoting British Prime Minister David Cameron. While there was no "causal connection" between poor English and extremism, language lessons would make communities "more resilient", Cameron said. The PM also suggested failing to learn English could affect people on spousal visas who wanted to settle in the UK. The government says 22 percent of Muslim women living in England speak little or no English - a factor it argues is contributing to their isolation. He is also announcing a review of the role of Britain's religious councils, including Sharia courts, in an effort to confront men who exert "damaging control over their wives, sisters and daughters". Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Cameron said the push on language was "about building a more integrated, cohesive, one nation country where there's genuine opportunity for people". There is "a connection with combating extremism" too, he argued, and improving English was important "to help people become more resilient against the messages of Daesh". "But if you're not able to speak English, you're not able to integrate, you may find, therefore, that you have challenges understanding what your identity is and you could be more susceptible to the extremist message that comes from Daesh." New rules will mean that from October, people coming to the UK on a five-year spousal visa will have to take a test after two and a half years to show they are making efforts to improve their English. Asked what would happen to those who failed, Cameron told Today: "They can't guarantee that they'll be able to stay. Dr Sundas Ali, a lecturer at Oxford University who researches Muslims in Britain, said language might be a barrier for some women, but there were much bigger factors. She added: "Overall, I see what he [David Cameron] is trying to do and I do appreciate that, but I think there are other issues affecting Muslim women which he should have mentioned, such as hate crimes." The language lessons will be targeted at "specific communities" identified by a review into segregation that is being conducted by Louise Casey, head of the government's "troubled families" unit. They will take place in homes, schools and community facilities, with travel and childcare costs - described as "some of the greatest barriers to participation" - being covered. SM/IINA