After explaining his desire to convert to join a peaceful religion, the Home Office sent him a letter citing scripture, and labelled the Book of Revelation as being "filled with imagery of revenge, destruction, death and violence".
The case received widespread criticism from numerous church leaders.
Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh on Monday raised the case in the House of Commons to the Home Secretary Sajid Javid.
He asked: "Will my right honourable friend acknowledge that amongst his officials, they may be so worried about being accused of Islamophobia or anti-Semitism that they overcompensate by becoming Christian critical and don't understand that Christianity is the cornerstone of all our freedoms?"
Just now in the Commons I mentioned the Home Office letter revealed by @nathestevens rejecting an Iranian Christian's asylum request. Home Secretary @sajidjavid confirms it was "totally unacceptable" and has ordered urgent investigation. #religiousfreedom #persecutedchristians pic.twitter.com/F0lbFs2Xk4
— Sir Edward Leigh MP (@EdwardLeighMP) April 1, 2019
Mr Javid said he had seen the letter and added: "It is not in accordance with policies of the Home Office in any way.
"I have ordered an urgent investigation and not ruled out any further action."
They withdrew their decision and confirmed it wasn't in accordance with their policies. It was an aberration by an individual, but it didn't necessarily shock us practitioners as much as the public as we see that sort of thing a lot
— Nathan Stevens (@nathestevens) March 29, 2019
Nathan Stevens, the Christian immigration case worker who is working on the Iranian national's case has now revealed that the Home Office is withdrawing its refusal notice and case workers will be given more opportunities to present further evidence regarding the asylum application.
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