LONDON: Muslim women who fail to learn English to a high enough standard could face deportation from Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Monday.

He suggested that poor English skills could leave people “more susceptible” to the messages of militant groups like the Islamic State (IS).

Mr Cameron’s comments came as his centre-right Conservatives launched a $28.5 million language fund for women in isolated communities as part of a drive to build community integration.

Immigration rules already force spouses to speak English before they come to Britain to live with their partners.

But the prime minister said they would also face further tests after two and a half years in the country to make sure their language skills were improving.

“You can’t guarantee you will be able to stay if you are not improving your language,” he told BBC radio.

“People coming to our country, they have responsibilities too.”

The government estimates that around 190,000 Muslim women in England — about 22 per cent — speak little or no English.

There are estimated to be around 2.7m Muslims in England out of a population of some 53m.

“I am not saying there is some sort of causal connection between not speaking English and becoming an extremist, of course not.

“But if you are not able to speak English, not able to integrate, you may find therefore you have challenges understanding what your identity is and therefore you could be more susceptible to the extremist message,” the prime minister said.

His comments drew criticism from Muslim groups and opposition parties.

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, which campaigns for better community relations, accused Mr Cameron of “disgraceful stereotyping”.

“David Cameron and his Conservative government are once again using British Muslims as a political football to score cheap points to appear tough,” he said.

“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.”

Andy Burnham, home affairs spokesman for the main opposition Labour party, accused Mr Cameron of a “clumsy and simplistic approach” which was “unfairly stigmatising a whole community”.

Prime Minister Cameron also said that Britain needed to take on the “backward attitudes” of some men who exerted damaging control over their wives, sisters and daughters.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2016