Written question asked by David Heyes (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 21 July 2008. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 July 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Deportation: Iran

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will suspend the return to Iran of Iranian nationals who are converts to Christianity and who have been denied asylum in the UK in light of the consideration by the Iranian Government of a mandatory death sentence for apostasy from Islam.

Answer: [holding answer 21 July 2008]: We only enforce the return of individuals, including Christian converts from Iran, whom we, and the independent immigration judges, are satisfied are not in need of protection.Each case is carefully considered on its individual merits against the background of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the latest available country information. We do not accept that each and every asylum seeker who presents themselves as being from a particular country or religion, regardless of their individual circumstances, should automatically be afforded protection in the UK.

Secondary information