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REX/ZUMA
World News

Iraqi Christians seeking religious asylum who fled IS could be kicked out of America

by Hannah Tooley

After waiting a period of months, the 27 Christians, known as Chaldeans, could be kicked out of the US over the coming days.

The Daily Mail has reported that despite having family sponsors, 22 people were denied asylum and are being sent back to Europe.

Five asylum seekers are still awaiting their verdicts.

It is though around 4,200 Iraqi Muslims have been allowed into the US and around 727 Christians.

There a fewer Christians in the region than Muslims.

Lisa Jones, Executive Director of Christian Freedom International, said on The Mail Online that: "It makes no sense."

She added that the minority of Christians seem to face greater struggles to reach safety.

She said: "It makes no sense.

"These are people from a Christian culture like our own that needs protection from ISIS. It is harder for Christians to move around Iraq and Syria to even get the chance to seek asylum.

"While many more Muslims are granted asylum over here, Christians are being systematically exterminated."

President Obama has made bold claims to support refugee crises in Europe and protect persecuted citizens in the Middle East.

IS says it is waging war on Christians and leaves them few options apart from converting or death.

US policy says asylum seekers need to prove that they are being directly persecuted.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has claimed that five of the group have been charged with lying on their application forms because they did not admit they owned German passports.

Those criminally charged are Eva and Thamer Sadek Eshoa, Reta Marrogi, Valentina Adil Slewa Zori and Devid Benjamen Nooh Yako.

Each person faces a $250,000 fine (around £160,000) and could face five years in jail.

The remaining group, with family sponsors have been told to look to Germany and Sweden.

Lisa Jones told The Mail Online that: "They have family members, also Christians, who are willing to take them in'

"It used to be that that would be a huge help. It's not clear why they, of all people, are being turned away while others are accepted."

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