The Archbishop of York has joined other church leaders and criticised recent comments by Government minister Phil Woolas. Dr John Sentamu said recent comments by Mr Woolas were wrong.

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas should be publicly investigating his own government's bias against asylum seekers rather than attacking charities, human rights groups and lawyers for giving vulnerable people support, says the religion and society think tank Ekklesia.

A Church of Scotland official has welcomed the British government's response to its concerns about the Dungavel asylum detention centre, but churches remain deeply disturbed by the official treatment of those seeking refuge in the UK.

Two Christian campaigners from Manchester have begun a 2-week protest camp outside the Houses of Parliament to call on MPs to help change UK policies that are making refused asylum seekers destitute.

Davis MacIyalla, director of the lesbian and gay rights group Changing Attitude Nigeria, has been granted asylum in the United Kingdom. Mr Davis has been subject to a range of attacks and death threats for his Christian work.

An inquiry has said that Britain's asylum system is inhumane and urged the Government to improve the treatment of refugees. The Independent Asylum Commission (IAC), made 46 recommendations to the Home Office.

Churches and campaigners for asylum justice in Leeds and beyond are dismayed at the deportation of a member of a Baptist congregation. They say it highlights deep concerns about the fairness of the United Kingdom asylum system.

The arrest last month of a US humanitarian worker entering Canada with 12 Haitian asylum seekers has serious implications for church groups and organizations that help refugees, says Mennonite Central Committee Canada’s refugee coordinator.