Persecuted Christians Face One Trial after Another in Refugee Camps

Amanda Casanova | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Jul 18, 2017

Persecuted Christians Face One Trial after Another in Refugee Camps

A Christian charity in London is asking the Greek government to change a policy that is keeping homeless Christian refugees who fled to Lesbos from being able to apply for asylum with the United Nations.

The British Pakistani Christian Association wrote to the U.N. and Green officials, saying that Pakistani Christian refugees fled from the U.N. Moria camp and Lesbos island because Muslims persecuted them inside the camp.

BPCA President Wilson Chowdhry said Greek authorities put in place a “geographical restriction” that blocks asylum seekers who had fled from the refugee camps from being able to apply for asylum on the mainland unless they return to the camp. The policy is meant to keep better track of asylum seekerg.

An exception is if the asylum seeker has a severe health condition.

“I would like to bring to your attention several reports of persecution that have been raised with the British Pakistani Christian Association, relating to persecution of Christians with the Muslim majority … Moria Camp,” Chowdhry wrote in an email to the United Kingdom’s Greek Ambassador Dimitris Caramitsos.

Chowdhry reached out to the ambassador for help to change the policy.

“Christians are being prevented from holding church services, worshiping and praying by their Muslim neighbors.

“The majority of Christian refugees escape but are being refused asylum by Greek authorities who only consider adverse health as a mitigating factor and not Christian persecution,” he said.

Caramitsos has not responded to Chowdhry’s request.

 

Photo courtesy: Christian Aid Mission

Publication date: July 18, 2017



Persecuted Christians Face One Trial after Another in Refugee Camps