So let's not let facts get in the way of cheap shots! The facts are that I have lived in quite a number places, some of which have a significant Muslim population. So I have no excuses not to be aware of their practices because of location. I am not that aware because I don't pay any attention to any religious practices, except when they interfere with my life. In truth I have been more disturbed by Christians than Muslims because where I was in Asia they have a habit of broadcasting their services via loudspeakers on the roof so loudly, and so early, that they could be heard half a mile away. Not just on Sunday's either.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

In the vast majority of cases we are not though the host country. We are not dealing with people on working visas who will return to their home country after they expire.

We are dealing with people who hold British passports, or are on the way to getting one, or to holding indefinite leave to remain which entitles them to apply for citizenship.

Most of those involved are British citizens, whether you recognise them as such or not.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

You are quite right. In 2002 it was done by a personal interview at the Embassy, which was a pleasant experience. I was there in the Embassy (not the interview, which lasted 20 mins and confirmed everything previously submitted and the English).

In 2016 the interviews had been handed out to an agency and the Embassy dealt only with the paperwork submitted. The form was nearly 100 pages long and asked huge levels of detail about the financial situation not only of the applicant but the sponsor, plus where they would live. Then there were TB tests and an IELTS English exam. After 2.5 years it is all done again here in the UK, with another IELTS and then after 5 years another round, this time with a "life in the UK" test which examines the applicant's attitudes towards British culture. The costs are huge and now include a NHS surcharge for the first 5 years

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Holding a passport does not make you "british"
Nore would giving me a Chinese passport make me Chinese. A piece of paper means nothing in my eyes. Being british is to be part of our society and make good efforts to simulate our culture. Not live in isolation.

From all I have read they were mostly British men, albeit from a pakistani background, although various other backgrounds were involved. So what do you actually want to do? Introduce special rules on the acquisition of British citizenship for Muslims, or maybe just for pakistani men. How would that make the other, law abiding citizens in that community feel? What would the impact be? Would it create further divide or make things better?

We need to punish criminals and not either nationalities or religions. Everyone now accepts that you don't judge people by their colour so why do it for other arbitrary reasons?

So if by "these" people you mean the criminals I agree. If you mean anything else I don't.

Edited by Wisbech Eagle (30 Apr 2019 12.27am)

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I wasn't the least offended. If I got offended by that kind of remark then I would not ever come here because it's happening every day. I just like to make sure people understand and not make assumptions.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.