One in 400 Syrian refugees given asylum in the UK in 2017

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This is despite an estimated 10 per cent of the Syrian population being Christian at the start of the civil war. The number of Christians granted asylum by Britain has slumped considerably since 2016, when 1.5 per cent were Christians. Last year that percentage dropped to just 0.23 - amounting to 11 of the 4,832 Syrians who were resettled in the UK. James Dobson, Senior Researcher at Bright Blue, which carried out the research, said: “Christians are being subjected to horrendous persecution in Syria.

“Yet, the figures revealed by Bright Blue today show the Government is failing to offer sufficient Syrian Christians safe harbour in Britain. “Prior to the Syrian civil war, 10 per cent of Syrians were forecast to be Christian. “To ensure fair, not special, treatment for Syrian Christians, the Government should commit to 10% of Syrian refugees admitted to the UK through the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme being Christian.” Bright Blue, a liberal Conservative think tank, has previously called for the Government to ensure that at least 10% of the Syrian refugees that are taken in under the UK’s Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme are Christians.

This would mean that Christians from Syria are receiving fair, not special, treatment in the UK’s refugee system. Prince Charles is among a number of high profile people who have spoken out about the persecution of Christians in the middle east. In a moving speech in December, the heir to the throne spoke of his “heartbreak” at the situation, and called on believers in the UK to step up their response to the crisis. Saying Christians in Syria, Iraq and other countries faced “troubled times” and “desperate trials”, he urged prayers for those “forced to leave their homes in the face of the most brutal persecution on account of their faith”. In a service at St Barnabas Church, Pimlico, the future royal said he was “profoundly shocked” at the levels of abuse faced by Christians, adding: “It is heartbreaking beyond words to see just how much pain and suffering is being endured by Christians, in this day and age, simply because of their faith.”

Middle East chaos as rockets shoot across Syria Thu, May 10, 2018 Middle East chaos as rockets shoot across Syria. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 7 Missile fire is seen over Daraa