British Prime Minister David Cameron has been hit with a Twitter storm after he recently suggested that ‘learning English’ will help tackle the ‘traditional submissiveness of Muslim women’.
“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,” he had said.
Hundreds of women across the United Kingdom along with the author of celebrated novel ‘Love in a Headscarf’, Shelina Janmohamed, were offended by his portrayal of Muslim women and came up with the hashtag #TraditionallySubmissive to counter his comments.
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His remarks drew responses from women of all ages, from young students to mothers and grandmothers. They posted pictures of themselves and their achievements to politely put the British prime minister straight.
Hey look! Here's me on @BBCRadio4 voicing my own opinion. By myself. On my own. In English #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/8ItZCeEs77
— Shelina Janmohamed (@loveinheadscarf) January 24, 2016
Graduation Day, at the LSE. #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/AcJQuXT7sW
— The Sunday Circle (@sundaycircles) January 24, 2016
Columbia grad, BBC journo, Pilates instructor, sport enthusiast and mummy. Yes, Cameron #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/LYqzPDGH8Q
— Zahra Khimji (@zahrakhimji) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/CktAoHsbc2
— Fatma Ali (@f_ali81) January 24, 2016
#TraditionallySubmissive? I don't think so @David_Cameron pic.twitter.com/ijtDJdUtg4
— Soukeina (@soukie_cookie) January 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/SukainaHirji/status/691345370325127170
#TraditionallySubmissive How's that for English speaking skills? pic.twitter.com/uQKPm3Hmzf
— Afrah Mansour (@AfrahM__) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron do I look submissive to you?! #traditionallysubmissive pic.twitter.com/mRWWVyXYAe
— Madiha Raza (@Madz_Raza) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron I speak 4 languages,how many do you speak? #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/tfX9EIvgEI
— Aasiya Versi (@AasiyaVersi) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron I'm a white British Muslim convert with a PhD. Senior Lecturer, TV presenter #traditionallysubmissive pic.twitter.com/jxpwy6Z41t
— Dr. Rebecca Masterton (@RebecMasterton) January 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/FDayamani/status/691321478835523584
https://twitter.com/RuwaydaMustafah/status/691337285145620481
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Cameron's comments also drew criticism from Muslim groups and opposition parties.
Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, which campaigns for better community relations, accused 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 added.
British home affairs spokesperson Andy Burnham of Labour party, accused Cameron of a “clumsy and simplistic approach” which was “unfairly stigmatising a whole community.”
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