Evangelicals chide Government for 'sub-standard' treatment of asylum seekers

Churches across the country can vouch for the sub-standard treatment of asylum seekers described in the Independent Asylum Commission's interim report published on Thursday, the Evangelical Alliance has said.

As a response to the report, the Alliance has called on the Government to introduce an advisory panel for religious information.

The Alliance, which interviewed churches and Christian charities across the UK last year for its report "Alltogether for Asylum Justice," said many of the asylum seekers and workers they dealt with gave evidence of poorly informed questioning, uncompassionate treatment and inadequate language interpretation.

This reflects the IAC's findings that the treatment of asylum seekers "falls seriously below the standards to be expected of a humane and civilised society."

Gareth Wallace, Parliamentary Officer for the Evangelical Alliance, said: "Unfortunately, the IAC's report comes as no surprise, especially for the pastors and charities who are providing the compassion so woefully lacking from the Home Office.

"We've particularly seen the 'culture of disbelief,' mentioned in the report, in interviews of people seeking asylum from some Muslim countries because they have converted to Christianity.

"Some of these people have been asked irrelevant questions to prove their conversion and denied asylum when they have been unable to answer, even though apostasy is a capital offence under Sharia law."

Phylip Rees, pastor of Tredegarville Baptist Church in Cardiff, which submitted information to the Alliance as part of its research, said: "As a pastor of a local evangelical church that has provided sanctuary to hundreds of people over five years, I have been shocked by the lack of humanity shown to some of the asylum seekers we have helped.

"This is a travesty, and people who aren't involved with asylum seekers on the ground don't know about it, so I'm delighted that the IAC is telling the hidden side of this story."

The Alliance has already provided MPs with guidance on asylum issues. It is now calling for the Home Office to introduce an advisory panel for religious information, mirroring a similar panel already set up for information about countries of origin.

"Such a constructive approach would greatly improve the consistency and quality and humanity of asylum decisions in the UK," said Mr Wallace.

"This recommendation, along with the "Alltogether for Asylum Justice" report, will be sent to the IAC for consideration in their final findings."