Racial segregation and social exclusion have reached "worrying levels" in the UK, a new report out on Monday revealed.
Dame Louise Casey's year-long review found successive governments have failed to ensure cohesion keeps up with the "unprecedented pace and scale of immigration", which has left some communities increasingly divided.
Casey put a spotlight on Muslim-majority areas, noting that some mosques teach women and girls regressive ideas about their role in society. She warned the fear of being labelled racist had led to public bodies ignoring or even condoning divisive and harmful religious practices.
The independent review recommended an "intergration oath" to encourage migrant communities to adopt British values, learn English and mix with other ethnic groups.
It comes after the review found 682 electoral wards had more than 40 per cent non-white residents in 2011, and in 17 wards that figure was 90 per cent – up from just one in 2001.
Casey focused on Islamic and Hindu communities where women were twice as likely not to speak English than men and more likely to be forced to stay at home.
"Misogyny and patriarchy has to come to an end," she said. "We must not fear being racist or homophobic."
She warned there has been a failure to call out "deeply regressive religious and cultural practices, especially when it comes to women" in some ethnic minority communities in the UK.
The review found "high levels of social and economic isolation in some places, and cultural and religious practices in communities that are not only holding some of our citizens back but run contrary to British values and sometimes our laws".
But Casey admitted there was a "vicious circle" where Muslims are blamed for terrorism and extremism leading to mutual suspicion and mistrust.
"In some ways we're pushing some people in the Muslim community away, because they do experience this sense of taking responsibility," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Every time there's a terrorist attack people automatically blame a person that's called a Muslim. That's wrong. Muslims are no more responsible for terrorist attacks than I am for the IRA."
But as well as Islamic communities Casey also pointed to Orthodox Jewish communities where children are taught "that a woman's role is to look after children, clean the house and cook".
Some Christian communities also came into the spotlight "with activists seeking to 'cure' people of homosexuality".
Casey said: "All such instances undermine integration and should be challenged".
Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, said: "This government is building a democracy for everyone and our country has long been home to lots of different cultures and communities, but all of us have to be part of one society – British society.
"So while it's right that we celebrate the positive contribution that diverse groups make to British life, we also need to continue making sure that nobody is excluded from it or left behind."
Javid called the report a "valuable contribution" and said he would be studying its findings closely.
