Evangelicals challenge Sweden to protect asylum seekers

An Evangelical association is calling on Sweden to give better protection for people who are in danger as a result of converting to Christianity.

Evangelical Focus reports that the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) made the recommendation at the United Nation's Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. EF explains that "throughout its 'cycles,' the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) gives a chance to countries and NGOs to present recommendations to all member states."

“We call on Sweden to take more effective measures to protect the rights of asylum-seekers to leave their current religion or to change their religion for another, and who run from the significant risks of persecution in their countries of origin,” says Michael Mutzner, one of the WEA spokespersons at the UN HRC in Geneva (Switzerland).

“Studies have shown that Christian converts had faced politicized and arbitrary procedures in Sweden and that the personnel of the Migration Agency lacks the necessary expertise and does not sufficiently collaborate with civil society when it verifies the genuineness of a conversion claim,” he says.

The WEA says that Christian refugees in Swedish asylum centres face harassment from others, as well. The organization calls on the country to include specific measures which would protect Christians, in its National Plan Against Racism and Hate Crimes.