What is “genuine conversion” to Christianity for the purposes of an asylum claim by a fugitive from Iran?

In PS (Christianity – risk) Iran CG [2020] UKUT 46 (IAC), the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the Upper Tribunal considered the current Country Guidance on asylum-seekers from Iran in the light of two questions:

• whether the situation in Iran for “ordinary” converts to Christianity had changed since the decision in SZ and JM (Christians – FS confirmed) Iran CG [2008] UKAIT 00082; and
• whether there was a real risk of persecution for persons who had engaged in Christian activities abroad, regardless of whether or not they held a genuine religious belief in Christianity [2].

Background

PS had been baptised as a Christian in 2015 and had attended church – but it was not accepted that his conversion was genuine. Continue reading →