ECLJ Convinces UK Court to Recognize Threat to Life Posed to Muslim Converts to Christianity - Syrian Christian Couple Granted Asylum

(United Kingdom)—An immigration court of appeals in the United Kingdom has for the first time recognized the plight of Syrian Evangelical Christians with Muslim backgrounds seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.  In the precedent setting victory, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) assisted the young couple (whose identity is being withheld to protect their safety) who were granted refugee status in the U.K.   The Court recognized that if the couple returned to Syria, the country of origin of the husband, they would face very real physical threats that could result in their deaths.  The Court granted the appeal on both asylum and human rights grounds.

The couple, former adherents of Islam, converted to Evangelical Christianity (the husband in 2003 and the wife in 2005) and thereafter became open witnesses of the Christian faith to Muslims through internet chat rooms. As a result of their conversion, which is deemed apostasy under Sharia’ law and subject to death, the couple began receiving death threats which included a video of a beheading.  The husband’s family told him that if he did not return to Islam the family would move against him and “wash their shame” – a phrase that he was told meant that he would be put to death. 

In its landmark decision, the Court recognized that a true commitment to Evangelical Christianity requires evangelism and that the circumstances of such converts to Evangelicalism in the Muslim world do pose a serious threat to life. 

“This is a significant and groundbreaking decision that clearly puts the focus on the fact that many converts to Christianity from Islam face real danger including the ultimate penalty of death,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of both the ECLJ and ACLJ.  “This important decision will not go unnoticed in the international arena and we’re delighted that it provides protection for Christian converts who are at great risk because of their faith and their desire to share it.”

The couple was represented by the ACLJ’s affiliated organization, the European Centre for Law and Justice, based in Strasbourg, France. 

“This is truly a landmark day in the United Kingdom as a nation awakens to the ever-growing threat of radical Islam and the plight of Christians in the Middle East,” said Roger Kiska, Legal Counsel of the ECLJ who represented the couple at the U.K. appeals court. “I couldn’t be happier with the decision and the role that ECLJ played in the case.”

The ECLJ worked closely with the ACLJ on the case.  The organizations provided legal advice and support throughout the case, as well as key expert testimony, including the only oral expert testimony at the hearing, on the threat posed to converts from Islam in Syria. 

The ACLJ also enlisted the assistance of six members of the U.S. Congress who sent a letter to the U.K. appeals court in August 2008 urging asylum for the couple.  The members of Congress urged the appeals court to protect the couple acknowledging that they “would face severe religious persecution as a result of their conversion from Islam to Christianity.”  The letter also recognized that the couple faced a “credible threat” and that their lives were in danger.   The letter concluded:  “….based upon the United Kingdom’s strong history of protecting religious refugees, we strongly urge the government of the United Kingdom to spare (the couple) and grant religious asylum in this case.”   The letter was signed by the following members of Congress:  Robert Aderholt, Todd Akin, Tom Feeney, Trent Franks, Jim Jordan, and Joe Pitts.

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide.  The ECLJ is affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) which focuses on protecting religious freedom in the United States. Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.  Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament.