'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
21 January 2004
LEIPZIG – A court in Germany has upheld the right to political asylum granted to a Muslim who converted to Christianity after coming to this country.
The federal administrative court in Leipzig said Tuesday the defendant, a political refugee from Iran, could conceivably face persecution in his native country as a result of having renounced Islam.
The case was seen as setting a precedent for other refugees seeking political asylum in Germany.
The judge noted that a Moslem man’s decision to join and regularly attend a Christian church was tangible proof of religious convictions potentially at variance with policies of a conservative Islamic republic.
DPA
Subject: German news