Deportation: Iran
Home Department
Written answers and statements, 22 July 2008
David Heyes (Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will suspend the return to Iran of Iranian nationals who are converts to christianity and who have been denied asylum in the UK in light of the consideration by the Iranian Government of a mandatory death sentence for apostasy from Islam.
Liam Byrne (Minister of State (Borders and Immigration; Minister for the West Midlands; (also in HM Treasury)), Home Office; Birmingham, Hodge Hill, Labour)
holding answer
We only enforce the return of individuals, including christian converts from Iran, whom we, and the independent immigration judges, are satisfied are not in need of protection.
Each case is carefully considered on its individual merits against the background of the 1951 UN refugee convention and the latest available country information. We do not accept that each and every asylum seeker who presents themselves as being from a particular country or religion, regardless of their individual circumstances, should automatically be afforded protection in the UK.