Migrant who fled Iranian regime ‘depressed’ after being sent to Gateshead

TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say However, the case has now reached the Upper Tribunal due to what were described as significant developments in Iran.FM, who was 16 when he arrived in Britain, said he had suffered abuse from his father and had been forced to work long hours without pay in Iran.He also told the court his brother had been seriously injured in an accident and fell into a coma.FM is said to have started attending church on the recommendation of a friend and later attributed his brother’s recovery to his involvement in Christianity.The tribunal was told: He started attending Farsi prayer sessions and has since completed the Alpha course and been baptised.At the time of the appeal he was undertaking a second course on Christian practice, and was regularly attending church.An expert witness told the court FM’s conversion appeared genuine and heartfelt, rather than an attempt to strengthen his asylum claim.The tribunal also heard he had taken part in protests in Newcastle against the Iranian regime and appeared in a video shared by an Iranian dissident account with 54,000 followers.LATEST NORTH EAST NEWS:Labour's new recycling scheme branded a 'joke' as THOUSANDS of collections missed on first dayPremier League club sells historic British stadium for £172m in bid to avoid PSR punishmentDerelict 18th century hospital awarded millions towards restoration after being left empty for yearsUpper Tribunal Judge Gaenor Bruce said FM had provided valid reasons for his conversion.She ruled that developments in both Iran and his personal circumstances mean the case should be reconsidered by a different judge at the First-Tier Tribunal.Gateshead, home to the Angel of the North, is ranked as the 53rd most deprived local authority out of 296.Only two per cent of the town’s population is Muslim, while around 51 per cent identify as Christian - above the national average of 46 per cent.Christians in Iran face persecution, with the regime accused of targeting converts since the war began.There are believed to be around 800,000 Christians living in the Middle Eastern country.Pastors have previously warned that migrants were using Christianity as a loophole to remain in Britain. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter