This odd and inexplicable decision is not only offensive and false in its claims about Christianity; it also exposes this Iranian national to prison or even death in Iran, where conversion from Islam is illegal. The passages cited from Revelation and Leviticus, and other such passages in the Bible, are not presented as instructions to the faithful to be violent, and Christians of all faith traditions do not understand them as such. The British government should be working to protected persecuted Christians, and give priority to asylum claims from people who are persecuted for their religious faith. This decision should be swiftly reviewed and overturned.
“Christianity NOT a religion of peace HOME OFFICE says citing bloodthirsty passages,” by Paul Withers, Express, March 21, 2019:
THE Home Office has claimed Christianity is not a religion of peace after turning down a Christian covert’s bid for asylum in an “unbelievably offensive” letter quoting bloodthirsty passages from the Bible.
The Iranian national was turned down for asylum in 2016, with the Home Office claiming his conversion from Islam was “inconsistent” with his claim Christianity is a peaceful religion. In the rejection letter from the Government department, published by the Iranian’s immigration case worker this week, six passages from the Bible are listed, with a claim made that Revelations [sic] is filled with “images of revenge, destruction, death and violence”. The letter also uses six examples from searchable online holy book Bible Gateway, and quotes parts of The Book of Leviticus from the Old Testament.
The full statement below the verses says: “These examples are inconsistent with your claim that you converted to Christianity after discovering it is a peaceful religion, as opposed to Islam which contains violence, rage and revenge.”
Nathan Stevens, an immigration caseworker, posted excerpts from the letter on his Twitter page, launching into a stinging attack against the Home Office for the “unbelievably offensive diatribe”.
He wrote: “I’ve seen a lot over the years, but even I was genuinely shocked to read this unbelievably offensive diatribe being used to justify a refusal of asylum.
“Whatever your views on faith, how can a government official arbitrarily pick bits out of a holy book and then use them to trash someone’s heartfelt reason for coming to a personal decision to follow another faith.”
In another post on Twitter, Mr Stevens said his client will be appealing the decision and will resubmitting a complaint to the Home Office.
He referred to text from another rejection letter, and wrote: “You affirmed in your AIR that Jesus is your saviour, but then claimed that He would not be able to save you from the Iranian regime…..