Committees

Home Office Minister and church representatives questioned on the asylum system and conversion to Christianity

8 March 2024

The Home Affairs Committee examines the role that conversion to Christianity plays in granting asylum in the UK.

Witnesses

Tuesday 12 March, Grimond Room, Portcullis House

From 9:45am:

  • The Reverend Matthew Firth (Former Priest at St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington) 

From 10:15am:

  • The Rev Canon Christopher Thomas (Senior Priest at The Catholic Church, and General Secretary at Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales)
  • The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani (Bishop of Chelmsford at Church of England)
  • The Reverend Steve Tinning (Public Issues Enabler at Baptist Union of Great Britain)

From 11:00am:

  • Tom Pursglove MP (Minister of State for Legal Migration and the Border at Home Office)
  • Dan Hobbs (Director General, Migration and Borders Group at Home Office)
  • George Shirley (Director of Asylum and Human Rights Operations at Home Office)

Focus on the role of conversion to Christianity in asylum decisions has grown in the aftermath of the Clapham attack, where perpetrator Abdul Ezedi was granted permission to stay in the UK after converting to Christianity. Concerns were raised that conversions could be used to bolster asylum claims, and that churches were becoming advocates for asylum claimants.

Reverend Matthew Firth has claimed that there is a “conveyor belt and veritable industry of asylum baptisms”, however his views have been widely challenged. The Bishop of Blackburn noted that it is the responsibility of the Government and not the church to oversee the asylum system.

It has been reported that 40 men housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge have converted to Christianity and that the Home Secretary has launched an investigation into this.

In this session, the Committee questions church representatives and the Government on the role that conversion to Christianity plays in granting asylum in the UK. It looks at how the genuineness of a conversion is assessed in asylum claims and appeals. It also examines the approach churches take to supporting asylum seekers wishing to convert to Christianity, and what guidance or policies they have in place.

Further information

Image credit: Elspeth Keep/UK Parliament