ECLJ Assists Christian Convert Couple Win Asylum in United Kingdom
WASHINGTON-(Business Wire)-September 23, 2009 - The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), the international affiliate of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), has assisted in providing a critical victory in the United Kingdom – clearing the way for a Pakistani Christian who married a Muslim woman who converted to Christianity to secure asylum in the U.K.
The ECLJ, in collaboration with Gillman-Smith Lee Solicitors and Barrister Mark Mullins, recently convinced the U.K.'s Asylum and Immigration Tribunal to permit an appeal by the persecuted couple to move forward and to issue a ruling on behalf of the couple.
“This represents a critical victory in the ongoing challenge to protect those who take great risk in proclaiming their Christian faith,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ECLJ and ACLJ. “At a time when so many Christian converts face real persecution – including the threat of death – it’s encouraging that this couple can now stay in the U.K. We’re delighted we were able to provide assistance in this very important case.”
The couple faced persecution from the woman's family because of their marriage and Christian faith. The woman's uncle, who is Muslim, attacked the couple in their home. Then he detained them in his house for several months, beat them, and forced them to recant their faith. The uncle also sought the services of a Muslim cleric to teach the couple about Islam.
Although current Pakistani law neither prohibits nor allows religious conversion, conversion from Islam to Christianity subjects converts to Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws which often results in beatings and even death.
The couple, whose identity is being withheld for their safety, made several attempts to flee and finally managed to escape. They received a visa to the U.K. and applied for asylum there. The U.K. Border Agency denied their asylum claim. But the couple was given the go-ahead to appeal that decision.
The ECLJ/ACLJ provided a critical report urging that the appeal be permitted and the couple be granted asylum in the U.K. The report included an in-depth look at the danger facing interfaith couples and Christian converts in Pakistan. The U.K. Asylum and Immigration Tribunal allowed the asylum appeal on September 2, 2009 deciding that the couple prevailed on their asylum claim and should not be removed from the U.K.
Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ (www.aclj.org) focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C. Its international affiliate, the ECLJ (www.eclj.org), is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide.
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.
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