Baptists Together has refused to verify whether the conversion claim of Clapham attacker, Abdul Ezedi, was endorsed by a Baptist priest.
The suggestion was made in a Daily Mail report quoting a government source as saying that the priest’s testimony was crucial in the choice of an immigration tribunal to grant Ezedi asylum after having been twice refused.
Ezedi is the only real suspect in last week’s acid attack on a lady and two children within the Clapham area of south London and has been on the run since.
Baptists Together said it couldn’t comment on claims that Ezedi converted in a Baptist church due to the continuing police investigation but said that its churches would proceed to “welcome the stranger”.
“We are fully aware of the questions being asked of our churches surrounding Abdul Shokoor Ezedi and broader queries around supporting asylum seekers,” it said.
“One of essentially the most consistent and explicit teachings within the Bible is to ‘welcome the stranger’. In recognition of this, Baptist churches across the UK and the world over have all the time, and can all the time, adopt a posture of welcome and compassion to those fleeing war, persecution, famine and the implications of climate change, regardless of any intention to convert to Christianity.”
The denomination went on to say that “due care” is taken with all expressions of interest in becoming Christian.
The statement added: “Whenever anyone, asylum seeker or otherwise, explores Christian faith in a Baptist church, due care might be taken to make sure those wanting to profess Christian faith understand the deep commitment they’re making and specifically the necessity to turn away from wrongdoing and seek to follow Christ in his ways of affection,” the spokesperson said.
“Welcoming those in need, having ears to listen to their stories of the past, extending an invite to journey alongside them into their future, and sharing the Christian faith to all who’re all in favour of hearing it, are central practices to the identity of the Christian church.
“We will proceed to supply support to our local churches through our regional associations and are praying for all those affected by the terrible events in Clapham.”
