Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
Comment from His Eminence Archbishop
Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London,
on a Home Office response to an Iranian Asylum Seeker
on a Home Office response to an Iranian Asylum Seeker
21 March 2019
It
is with great concern that I read reports from various sources yesterday
regarding a letter from the Home Office rejecting an Iranian asylum seeker, and
convert to Christianity, based on, at best a complete and utter
misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Christian Scripture, and at worst an
intentional manipulation of the text to justify the rejection of this
vulnerable individual.
Home
Office process and procedure on asylum issues, especially pertaining to
religious converts, has been a source of ongoing conversation with the Home
Office for a number of years. Through our Asylum Advocacy Group, which I
founded and convene, we are working with the Home Office on a training programme
due to be implemented within the coming months for case workers which takes into
account incidents such as these, and many more like it.
This
particular incident needs thorough investigation because while it has been
accepted by a spokesperson from the Home Office as ‘not in accordance with our
policy’, it must be determined whether this is merely out of misunderstanding
or a proactive attempt to adversely affect the application of someone whose
life may very literally be at risk. It must also be ascertained as to whether
religious discrimination is at work, as there is no place for partiality within
a Government that seeks to promote equality, and abides by Article 18 of the
Declaration of Human Rights among other agreements.
We have been told on numerous occasions that the Home Office is not even in a position to ask whether an employee, case worker or contractor has any religious affiliation at all. Taking this into consideration, it now is astounding that such brash comments about a person’s religious belief can be made by an employee or contractor of that same institution.
We have been told on numerous occasions that the Home Office is not even in a position to ask whether an employee, case worker or contractor has any religious affiliation at all. Taking this into consideration, it now is astounding that such brash comments about a person’s religious belief can be made by an employee or contractor of that same institution.
Since
yesterday, other examples have also arisen of similar malpractices when it comes
to misrepresenting Scripture and rejecting asylum claims on those grounds, and
so I do hope that these are also looked at in their entirety, and not a single
case in isolation.
I
look forward to our ongoing work with the Home Office as I commend the faithful
and professional practice of the vast majority of Home Office staff and
contractors.
Finally
we must realise the extent of these actions, and that they have a bearing on
people of faith who are potentially vulnerable in their state of origin, and vulnerable
here in Britain as asylum seekers, and for this we must take great care to
ensure that such violations do not go undetected or untreated.
*Ends*
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