Iranian pedophile described as a 'danger to society' who fought to stay in Britain for 14 years claims he can't be deported because he converted to Christianity

An Iranian pedophile who has waged a 14-year asylum battle claims he cannot be deported because he converted to Christianity and tattooed a cross.

The 45-year-old sex offender – described as a 'danger to the community' but whom The Mail on Sunday is barred from naming by a court order – was baptized just eleven days before filing his latest legal appeal to to remain in Britain.

Last year, an immigration judge rejected his claim, ruling that his inability to acknowledge the “miserability” of his sickening crimes showed he was not a Christian.

But in a stunning development, the judge has been reprimanded by a higher court for a 'completely inappropriate analysis' of the pedophile's 'relationship with God'.

The case, which has already been heard before six judges in a seemingly endless cycle of appeals, will have to be heard again at another immigration tribunal.

More than 300 migrants have appealed to the Upper Tier Immigration Tribunal for converting to Christianity (Stock Image)

The criminal, known as MM, is one of more than 300 migrants who have appealed to the Upper Tier Immigration Tribunal for converting to Christianity.

Other cases include a 43-year-old Bangladeshi man who was jailed for a minimum of 12 years for the murder of his wife, and a 37-year-old Somali career criminal who was convicted of 12 crimes, including assault and burglary.

Meanwhile, chemical attack suspect Abdul Ezedi was granted asylum after claiming to have converted to Christianity, despite two convictions for assault and indecent exposure.

Police searched the Thames in central London yesterday, with officers saying they believe the 35-year-old likely drowned after falling into the river from Chelsea Bridge.

He was last seen there shortly before midnight on January 31, leaning over the railing.

Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel last night described the MM case as 'appalling', adding: 'The Church must stop providing assistance to dangerous criminals and those who seek to exploit our system.

“These violent criminals need to go from jail to plane. That's what the public expects.'

The Church of England has stressed that it is not its job to investigate asylum seekers.

Court documents obtained by the MoS reveal how MM illegally entered Britain in 2010 after leaving Iran. His first asylum application was rejected two months after his arrival, prompting a series of appeals.

Six years later, while waiting to discover whether he had been granted indefinite leave to remain, he was convicted of two charges of sexual assault and jailed for seven and a half years.

Court papers show he committed sexual offenses against a child.

The sex offender was baptized just 11 days before filing his final legal appeal to remain in Britain (Stock Image)

He was served deportation papers in 2018, but filed a human rights appeal.

Later that year he began visiting his prison chapel. However, in early 2020, his appeal appeared to have been rejected and he was on the verge of deportation.

He then filed a new human rights claim based on the risk that he would be tortured and killed in Iran for abandoning his Muslim faith. He also claimed he would be in danger because his brother worked for the BBC.

On February 19, 2020 – 11 days before this new claim was filed – he was baptized. He also claimed to have a tattoo of a Christian cross, although the Home Office claimed his interest in Christianity only began shortly before he was imprisoned.

In March 2021, Judge Paul Cruthers allowed his appeal, ruling that MM had become 'genuinely committed to the Christian faith' and would face a 'real risk' in Iran.

The judge is said to have been 'impressed' by evidence from Wesley Downs, the boss of Christian charity Renewal North West, who ran a weekly study group at MM prison. Mr Downs declined to comment this weekend.

Later that year, Judge Cruthers' ruling was overturned by the Upper Tribunal and MM's case was sent back to the First Tier Tribunal.

This time, in a scathing ruling, a different judge dismissed MM's case, saying he did not believe his claim that he had converted to Christianity.

He slammed the perpetrator for “minimising” his crime and “blaming the victim” and said he had “failed to demonstrate that he had honestly and sincerely acknowledged the seriousness of his sexual offenses against a child.”

Despite this, MM was allowed to appeal and in a ruling last month, Judge Peter Lane of the Upper Tribunal criticized the earlier decision, saying the judge had 'embarked on an… inappropriate analysis, peppered with rhetorical questions, of the relationship of the appellant with God'.

The criticized judge was not named in publicly available documents and the judiciary declined to release his name last week.