Christian man 'beaten and threatened by Islamic extremists' in Pakistan faces imminent deportation from UK

'It’s shameful – we are a Christian country yet we can’t help them'

A Christian man who was allegedly beaten and repeatedly threatened with execution by Islamic extremists in Pakistan is facing imminent deportation from the UK.

A church community in Birmingham has been left shocked after Asher Samson, 41, was detained while attending a weekly signing event with the Home Office in Solihull on 26 November.

Mr Samson told The Independent he was “terrified” at the prospect of being sent back to his home city of Abbottabad in Pakistan.

Asher Samson first arrived in the UK 14 years ago (Asher Samson)

The 41-year-old first arrived in the UK in 2004 to carry out his theology training in order to become a pastor, but later applied for asylum after receiving threats from Islamic extremists during visits home, he said.

His asylum claim was rejected earlier this year and Mr Samson is now being held in Morton Hall Detention Centre in Lincoln where he has been told he will be deported.

Mr Samson said he has “no one and nowhere to go” in Pakistan, adding: “If they do send me back my life will be really in danger. I’m so scared.

"People know who I am, they know I am a Christian and they have seen me on social media.

“They told me they had booked me a flight and I refused to go. They said next time they will take me by force.”

He and his family are regular churchgoers in Hall Green, Birmingham, and have spent more than 10 years as active members of the Christian community.

Due to religious persecution in their home country, his entire family has left, Mr Samson said. One sister went to New Zealand while he and two other siblings, who both have spousal and unmarried partner visas, settled in the UK after their father Samson Khurshid died.

Mr Samson told The Independent: “Every day I cry. I feel depressed. It’s Christmas time and I’m missing my family – and maybe I’ll never seen them again.

“The last five years I feel like a wasted person. I’m depending on my family to fulfil my daily needs. They’ve stalled my life, I can’t do anything. And now they are trying to send me to a place where I will be at risk.”

Revered Lorraine Shorten, who has known Mr Samson and his brother Aamir for 15 months and is pastor at their church of 10 years, said he was a “well-thought-of” member of the community.

The church leader added: “There was no warning or anything. It was quite terrifying for him.

“He’s been detained two hours' drive from here. People from his own community can’t visit him. Especially at this time of year when you want to be with family. He’s stuck in practically jail.

“It’s shameful – we are a Christian country yet we can’t help them. It’s terrifying to send him back there with the situation for Christians in Pakistan.”

She added: “They are a part of this community. They want to live and work and remain here. They are not a risk to anybody. The Home Office just sees them as a number.

“At home they were threatened and they lived in fear. This is so extremely short-sighted by the Home Office.”

Friends of Mr Samson, who say they fear he is in "mortal danger", have started a petition for him.

The grant rate for asylum applications dropped from 33 per cent per cent to 30 per cent in the two years to 2017, while the overall number of applications fell by 8 per cent.

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