A CHURCH shockingly backed the Clapham chemical attacker’s asylum bid – despite his history of sex offending.
Adbul Ezedi injured 12 people in the horror in Clapham, South West London on January 31.
PADocuments released today revealed Abdul Ezedi’s right to stay in the UK was backed by a church[/caption]
PAPhotos showed the asylum seeker allegedly being baptised after he arrived in the country[/caption]
PAGrange Road Baptist Church argued he handed out religious pamphlets for them, too[/caption]
Met PoliceEzedi injured 12 people in a horror attack in January, and his body was found 20 days later[/caption]
Cops launched a nationwide manhunt for the 35-year-old – before finding his body in the River Thames 20 days later.
Newly released documents and snaps have now revealed how the Afghan national was able to stay in the UK – even as a convicted sex offender.
Ezedi illegally entered Britain in 2016, and his claimed conversion to Christianity allowed him to stay.
Documents showed the asylum seeker said he had joined Grange Road Baptist Church in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear the same year.
Photos released today showed Ezedi appearing to hand out religious flyers to passersby on the streets of Newcastle.
Others seemed to illustrate him being baptised in a church.
And documents show it was that church that fought for Ezedi to stay in the country in 2018.
However, that fight for him to live in the UK came eight months after he’d been convicted of sex offenses.
Ezedi managed to avoid jail after pleading guilty to charges of sexual assault and exposure – after he grabbed the bottom of a woman without her consent in the months prior.
He was placed on the sex offender register for 10 years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work when he was handed a suspended sentence in January 2018.
But a letter written the same year by Reverend Roy Merrin, a retired ministry team leader at Grange Road Baptist Church, “supported” Ezedi stay in the UK.
The letter, dated 28 August 2018, read: “I have known Abdul since February 2016, during which time he has attended regular worship services at Grange Road.
“Abdul has attended an Alpha Course organised by the church and, as a result of him coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, has been baptised by total immersion.
“Abdul has established a good relationship with the other Church members, and is always willing to help as required. Apart from that, Abdul has been ready to share his faith in Christ with non-Christians.
“I hope that this information will be of assistance, and I would support his application to remain in this country.”
However, an undated document titled “safeguarding contract”, in Ezedi’s name, set out the conditions for his attendance at the Baptist church, in light of his convictions.
The Home Office make the final decision on asylum applications and have access to full criminal records data to enable them to do this.
Baptists Together
It included a requirement that he had to “stay in the vicinity” of an appointed male supporter during services and was not allowed to sit alone in church “at any time”.
Then, in March 2019, Ezedi lodged an appeal in an attempt to stay in the UK, arguing he feared persecution because of his religion.
Then, at a hearing in November, 2020, the sex offender was allowed the right to stay in the country.
Judge WK O’Hanlon, sitting in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), said: “Having considered all of the evidence before me in the round, notwithstanding my concerns as to the honesty of the appellant in relation to certain aspects of his account, I find that the appellant had been consistent in his evidence with regard to his conversion to Christianity.”
Baptists Together, a movement of more than 1,800 local churches of which Grange Road is one, has now claimed it “did not corporately support or sponsor” Ezedi staying in the UK.
The organisation said: “Baptists Together did not corporately support or sponsor Abdul Ezedi’s asylum application.
Rise of chemical attacks in the UK
IN 2022 there were 710 chemical attacks in the UK – the highest since records began.
The horror in Clapham was just one of many similar incidents. Here are some examples of other attacks.
February, 2024 – Basingstoke, Hampshire
Woman left burning and blistered after mystery substance thrown on her at pub
2017 – Dalston, East London
TV star Ferne McCann‘s ex Arthur Collins threw acid across a packed nightclub dance floor, injuring 22
2017 – High Wycombe, London
Joanne Rand sprayed with acid while sitting on park bench and died 11 days later
2014 – Truro, Cornwall
Andreas Christopheros was attacked on his doorstep in a case of mistaken identity
2012 – Stratford, East London
Naomi Oni attacked by bitter pal Mary Konye while walking down the street
2008 – Golders Green, London
Katie Piper had acid hurled at her by Stefan Sylvestre after ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch arranged attack
“A personal letter of support commenting solely on Abdul Ezedi’s observed faith journey was written by a retired Baptist Minister.
“The safeguarding contract was a separate issue and was agreed between the church and Abdul Ezedi, with guidance from local and regional safeguarding leads using our national template document of the time.
“This was to show the church had sufficiently risk assessed Abdul Ezedi’s attendance at church, ensuring the safety of the congregation and considering if it was appropriate for him to attend.
“The Home Office make the final decision on asylum applications and have access to full criminal records data to enable them to do this.”
The Home Office tonight said: “All asylum claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the Immigration Rules.
“This means that religious conversions do not guarantee a grant of asylum.
“We have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to help us to improve our policy guidance, training for asylum decision-makers, and to ensure we approach claims involving religious conversion in the appropriate way.”
PAA nationwide manhunt was launched for Ezedi after the January 31 attack[/caption]
Not known, clear with picture deskEzedi, snapped on CCTV before the attack, entered the UK illegally in 2016[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
