4. Initiatives
4.1 Asylum Advocacy Group (AAG)
The Coptic Orthodox Church UK Asylum Advocacy Group was formed in 2007 by HG Bishop Angaelos, who is the chair, and incorporates the following interested parties:
The Coptic Orthodox Church, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, The Evangelical Alliance, UK Copts Association, United Copts of Great Britain, Educational Relief Trust, Barnabus Fund, Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust. The Baroness Cox of Queensbury is a founder member of the AAG with His Grace, which includes a variety of clergy, lawyers and specialists in human rights.
The AAG addresses the religious faith problems and issues that Muslim-Christian converts from Egypt have during their asylum application process with the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA). A Report for the AAG was commissioned in 2007 to look at addressing the experience of Egyptian converts to Christianity in the UK asylum system. This Report is now used to brief the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, as well as the judiciary. It is also used to support the applications of those affected parties. The AAG is currently working with the UKBA on training needs and requirements for case workers to ensure that asylum seekers who are converts receive fair and unbiased treatment.
Read more about this topic: Bishop Angaelos, Official Representation
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