New Cultural Exam for German Citizenship

If Bavaria is the Texas of Germany, neighboring Baden-Wuerttemberg is equivalent to Louisiana. Aside from being home to Porsche, Mercedes, and cuckoo clocks, there's not much else to preen about; but behind that funny accent they've got plenty of Texas attitude.

Muslims intent on becoming German citizens will have to undergo a rigorous cultural test to gauge their views on subjects ranging from bigamy to homosexuality.

Believed to be the first test of its kind in Europe, the southern state of Baden-Württemberg has created a two-hour oral exam to test the loyalty of Muslims towards Germany.

It is to be taken on top of the standard test for foreigners wishing to become German citizens, which includes language proficiency skills and general knowledge. It also requires applicants to prove that they can provide for themselves and their families. Those applying must also have resided in Germany for the previous eight years and have no criminal record.

Germany's 15 other states will monitor the progress of the policy when the tests begin this week before deciding whether they wish to adopt similar legislation.

The 30 questions, which have been set by a special commission, range from sexual equality to school sports and are meant to trigger a more detailed discussion between the applicants and officials. Until now, all applicants have simply had to tick a Yes or No box to answer whether they felt loyalty to Germany.

. . . The state interior ministry said the test would be used to filter out Muslims who were unsuited for life in Germany. Those who answered "correctly" but later acted against expected behaviour, such as wife-beating, could have their citizenship removed.

Critics say that the test is biased and discriminatory and that if Muslims are obliged to take it, so should all applicants for citizenship.

Hokay. I see no problem with that.

. . . The European Assembly of Turkish Academics rejected the questionnaire as "strongly discriminatory and racist" against Germany's three million-strong Muslim population, most of whom are Turkish.

Dieter Biller, of the foreign ministry in Stuttgart, the state capital, said the test would help bureaucrats to form opinions as to whether citizenship applicants were suitable or not.

"It covers everything from sexual equality, violence, school sports and religious freedom," he said. "How the applicants stand on the question of the attacks of September 11 will also be a key question."

Some may be creeped out at the idea of Germans administering "loyalty tests," but (a) the test isn't looking for loyalty, but propensity to Islamic radicalism, and (b) it's not based on race, ethnicity, or other inherent characteristics, but rather on acquired attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Further, all the usual bellyaching doesn't change the fact that citizenship is a privilege, not a right. Overall, an excellent step in the right direction.

However, I imagine it won't be long before the EU sues Germany for such "discriminatory" measures. After all, the EU has decreed that "the age of absolute national sovereignty is over."