Afghan man granted asylum in Britain on grounds he faces persecution for atheism

Published January 08, 2015

Lawyers for a young Afghan man say he has been granted asylum in Britain because he is an atheist who could face death in his homeland.

Lawyers for the man, who has not been identified, say he came to Britain aged 16 in 2007 and gradually lost his Muslim faith.

They said that if he returned to Afghanistan he could face death for renouncing Islam, a crime under Shariah law.

Claire Splawn, a University of Kent law student who helped prepare the man's case, said protection from religious persecution should also apply to atheists.

The Home Office said it did not comment on individual cases.

Lawyer Sheona Yorke, who worked on the case, said Tuesday that this is believed to be the first case of its type in Britain.

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