An Algerian woman who married a French man back in 2010 was denied French citizenship after refusing to shake hands with immigration officials. The woman apparently claimed that she was forbidden from touching males owing to her religion. French officials decided that was enough to prove that she had not yet assimilated to French culture and thus should be denied citizenship. France’s highest court, the State Council, has upheld the ruling.
Like many countries, France will grant citizenship to foreigners who marry citizens. However, the French government has two years to challenge a citizenship request if officials believe that the spouse has not assimilated to French society. For the record, being able to speak and understand French is not a requirement. Instead, the government looks for signs of cultural assimilation.
Apparently, a refusal to touch males was enough proof that the woman had not assimilated. The woman appealed the initial decision, and her case was eventually heard by the State Council. The State Council upheld the ruling and also argued that doing so would not violate her religious freedom.
The woman’s religion was not explicitly mentioned in the court case. Given that she’s from Algeria, she’s most likely a Muslim, as roughly 99 percent of the population is Islamic. However, many religions ban or heavily regulate interactions between males and females. Some interpretations of orthodox Judaism, for example, also ban non-relative male and female touching.
France and Much of Europe Struggling to Cope With Migrant Influx
The ruling comes at a time when France and other European countries are struggling to deal with a flood of migrants from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Economic stagnation, corruption, oppressive governments, and civil wars have created a huge flux of people from said region. With Europe just beyond the Mediterranean Sea, many migrants are making their way into European countries.
It can be difficult for societies and migrants to assimilate to one another even when the flows of people are much smaller. The cultural gaps between some immigrants from MENA and the typical liberal European society can be quite extensive. With many migrants fleeing in haste, however, it can be even more difficult for the migrants themselves and foreign governments to adjust. Many are not coming after a prolonged thought process—weighing the pros and cons—but because exigent circumstances demand it.
Germany has seen a spike in crime over the past two years. In 2015 and 2016, Germany saw a 10 percent spike in crime per year. Roughly 90 percent of the increase in crime was attributed to refugees, primarily young males. However, refugees from war-torn nations, such as Syria, were much less likely to break the law.
In 2017, France received roughly 100,000 asylum claims, one of the highest levels for any country. In fiscal year 2016, the United States granted asylum to just over 20,000 people. It’s unclear how many people applied and how many were rejected. Over the last several years, the United States has let in roughly 80,000 refugees per year. However, President Trump has capped refugee relocations at 45,000 per year, a move widely derided by activists.
Regardless, the United States has generally been praised for its ability to assimilate disparate communities. Consider that no refugee has been implicated in a fatal terrorist attack since the Refugee Act of 1980.
