Persecuted Christians ‘banned’ from US

-04/04/06

Christian refugees are being ‘bann


Persecuted Christians ‘banned’ from US

-04/04/06

Christian refugees are being ‘banned’ from the US, with a growing hostility in Washington against persecuted Christian asylum seekers, a group which works for religious liberty has claimed.

Christian Freedom International (CFI), which operates schools and orphanages for Karen and Karenni refugees along the Burma/Thailand border, has said that the US Department of Homeland Security is refusing to allow Christian refugees to enter the US because of national security concerns.

They point out that Canada, Australia, and other nations however are opening their doors to refugees.

The allegations follow disappointment expressed by many Christians that the US government failed to offer Abdul Rahman, a man in Afghanistan who faced the death penalty after converting from Islam to Christianity, asylum.

Catholic leaders in the US have also said that they may break a proposed immigration law, designed to further tighten borders, saying that “the laws of the gospel always exceed the laws of the land.”

Anyone who knowingly “assists, encourages or directs” someone to reside in the US illegally would be guilty of alien smuggling and subject to up five years in prison under the bill.

Among other things, the bill would obligate churches and other social organizations to ask immigrants for legal documentation before providing assistance.

According to the President of Christian Freedom International, Jim Jacobson, ìThere is a growing hostility in Washington against persecuted Christian asylum seekers and Christian refugees like the Karen and Karenni of Burma. While we see so many people allowed to enter the country illegally, our government is shutting its doors to persecuted Christian asylum seekers and refugees. It is not fair; it is not right. There is a definite double standard here.î


Persecuted Christians ‘banned’ from US

-04/04/06

Christian refugees are being ‘banned’ from the US, with a growing hostility in Washington against persecuted Christian asylum seekers, a group which works for religious liberty has claimed.

Christian Freedom International (CFI), which operates schools and orphanages for Karen and Karenni refugees along the Burma/Thailand border, has said that the US Department of Homeland Security is refusing to allow Christian refugees to enter the US because of national security concerns.

They point out that Canada, Australia, and other nations however are opening their doors to refugees.

The allegations follow disappointment expressed by many Christians that the US government failed to offer Abdul Rahman, a man in Afghanistan who faced the death penalty after converting from Islam to Christianity, asylum.

Catholic leaders in the US have also said that they may break a proposed immigration law, designed to further tighten borders, saying that “the laws of the gospel always exceed the laws of the land.”

Anyone who knowingly “assists, encourages or directs” someone to reside in the US illegally would be guilty of alien smuggling and subject to up five years in prison under the bill.

Among other things, the bill would obligate churches and other social organizations to ask immigrants for legal documentation before providing assistance.

According to the President of Christian Freedom International, Jim Jacobson, ìThere is a growing hostility in Washington against persecuted Christian asylum seekers and Christian refugees like the Karen and Karenni of Burma. While we see so many people allowed to enter the country illegally, our government is shutting its doors to persecuted Christian asylum seekers and refugees. It is not fair; it is not right. There is a definite double standard here.î