This refers to the article, “Paris attack intensifies Europe refugee debate” (November 21) by Ashok Malik. After the huge devastation in World War II, European nations were in need of massive manpower to re-build their countries and industrial base. While France encouraged large-scale immigration of unskilled labour from its colonies in north Africa, West Germany encouraged immigration from Turkey. This policy continued till automation replaced cheap manual labour.
By this time, immigrant labourers acquired citizenship and settled down in their new country, France. However, they never merged culturally with their host country and were left marginalised.