Iranian asylum seeker 'faces death'

Mr Pasbakhsh fled Iran after an affair with a woman

Friends of an asylum seeker living in the North West claim he faces certain death if he is forced to return to Iran.

Shahin Pasbakhsh, 36, was arrested and taken to a detention centre near Oxford in December 2002 after his asylum application and appeals were rejected.

Mr Pasbakhsh, of Warrington, Cheshire, says he fled Iran because he had had an affair with a married woman and had been sentenced to death by stoning.

He was due to be flown back to Iran on Tuesday, but his removal has been suspended while his lawyers apply for a judicial review.

Converted to Christianity

Mr Pasbakhsh arrived in the UK in 2000 and has worked in the accident and emergency unit at Warrington General Hospital since May 2002 as a support assistant.

He has also become a member of the local Pentecostal church, converting from Islam to Christianity.

But he was arrested on 9 December and removal forms were issued by the Home Office on Friday.

His solicitor, Peter Simm, said it was "very unusual" for removal forms to be issued so quickly after arrest.

Thursday deadline

He added there was evidence that he could also be at risk in Iran because of his conversion to Christianity.

Mr Pasbakhsh's legal team have been given until Thursday to submit their application.

A Home Office spokesman declined to comment on the case but added: "All asylum applications are considered on their merits.

"It is normal practice not to remove someone if an application for a judicial review has been granted."