Church under scrutiny after Muslim burial for chemical attacker who 'converted' to Christianity

HOME OFFICE FEARS OVER ABUSE OF ASYLUM SYSTEM

- Michael Knowles

THE Home Office will monitor how churches deal with migrants who attempt to convert to Christianity, the Daily Express can reveal.

Officials want to create a "working group" with senior members of the clergy as fury continues to mount over the case of Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi.

Afghan Ezedi received a Muslim funeral and burial, reportedly at an unnamed site in London, despite claiming to have converted to Christianity in an apparent bid to convince an immigration judge to give him asylum. The request for an Islamic service came from his friends and family.

Home Office sources have warned that the reputation of Christian churches could be damaged if they are viewed as undermining the asylum system.

The Express understands the new working group will focus on how churches reach the decision to support asylum applications, and how many migrants genuinely convert to Christianity.

A source close to Home Secretary James Cleverly said: "We want the churches to keep a closer eye on this and to share, as we will, information on this issue.

"We want to work with all the denominations of Christian churches to explain the way we apply our asylum criteria.