[LINK] New law in the Netherlands: Immigrants from Pakistan must speak Dutch

[Deus Ex Machina]

New law in the Netherlands: Immigrants from Pakistan must speak Dutch
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\09\05\story_5-9-2006_pg7_5

"ISLAMABAD: The Dutch government on Monday passed a law aimed at heavily
restricting the number of would-be Pakistani immigrants to the
Netherlands, by linking applications to Dutch language proficiency,
officials said.
Under the new law, any Dutch national of Pakistani origin will only be
permitted to send for family members (with a view to settling in
Holland) provided that they learn Dutch prior to immigration
application. Similarly, any Pakistani wishing to immigrate to the
Netherlands will be required to take a language proficiency test at the
Dutch Embassy in Islamabad. Anyone failing the test will automatically
be denied the right to apply for immigration.
Officials said that recent terrorist activities in the United Kingdom,
which have been linked to Britons of Pakistani origin, had prompted the
Netherlands to adopt the measure. However, officials pointed out that
the new law would not affect those of Pakistani origin wishing to visit
the Netherlands on Schengen tourist or business visas.
The Pakistani government has come under domestic pressure to protest the
new law and seek its overturning. Currently, there are no Dutch language
teaching institutes in Pakistan. Many see this latest move as a bid by
the Dutch government to keep Holland "Dutch".
Last year, the country offended its Muslim population by threatening to
ban women from publicly wearing burqas, claiming that such attire
undermined the secular identity of the country."