State asks clergy witness converts

Sylvi ListhaugMinister of Immigration and Integration Sylvi Listhaug (Progress Party).Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB scanpix

Foreigners who enter conversion to another faith as a reason for stay, must from January meet with a minister or someone from the congregation to raise credibility in the face of the authorities.

In an instruction to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) on Friday, immigration minister Sylvi Listhaug introduced a one-year pilot project that will boost credibility in cases where the person applying to stay in Norway claims to have converted to another religion.

– In some cases it may be evidentially problematic and difficult to determine whether a conversion is credible or not. The assessment will often determine whether the applicant is entitled to protection, says Sylvi Listhaug.

She said instruction allows for that other than the complainant and the lawyer are better able to meet and comment on the complainant’s conversion in a committee meeting.

This may involve a priest or anyone else from the church as “expected to provide information on credibility assessment.”

Instructions enter into force on 1 January 2017 and will last until 1 January 2018.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today