Muslims Converting to Christianity in Hopes of Gaining Asylum
September 4, 2015At the same time that Church attendance in Germany has been declining, new congregation members are popping up from an unexpected source: Middle Eastern refugees.
However, many of these new congregants admit, in private, that they are converting only in order to remain in Europe, an Associated Press report revealed Friday. They believe that the label of Christian, or at least Muslim apostate, holds the key to gaining asylum.
In several Muslim countries, leaving Islam is grounds for imprisonment or even execution. The newly-converted hope that this will be grounds enough to allow them to remain in Europe.
Record numbers of asylum seekers have been coming to Germany over the past few years. In 2015 alone, experts predict that 800,000 new refugees will arrive. Once in the country, the migrants have to convince authorities to allow them to stay.
Those from Syria are almost guaranteed to be classified as refugees. However, those from countries that are considered more “stable,” even including Afghanistan, are often turned away.
Governmental bodies say that they evaluate each candidate on an individual basis, and do not share how many are accepted on the basis of religious persecution. Converting solely for the purpose of not being deported is grounds for disqualification, so many aspirants are also reluctant to discuss the topic.
Within the refugee communities, though, information on “welcoming” churches and priests is frequently passed along. One in particular, Father Gottfried Martens of Berlin’s evangelical Trinity Church, has a very strong reputation among those who need a quick conversion.
Many claim that he only requires people to study for three months and that he helps with asylum appeals. As a result, Trinity Church alone has converted hundreds of asylum seekers, most from Iran and Afghanistan.
Father Martens told Associated Press that he does not care why people convert, as long as it brings them to the Church. “I know there are — again and again — people coming here because they have some kind of hope regarding their asylum,” he said. “I am inviting them to join us because I know that whoever comes here will not be left unchanged”
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...