'Our Second Mother': Iran's Converted Christians Find Sanctuary In Germany, by Liana Aghajanian, The Guardian
"Spread across multiple churches and asylum camps, Muslim-to-Christian converts from Iran make up a noticeable population of asylum seekers who say a growing crackdown on Muslim-born Christian converts back home, and disillusion from decades of living under Islamic law, have led them to Germany. Though Iranian converts can be found in The Netherlands, Sweden and Austria, Germany’s economic stability and reputation as a major refugee hosting country has made the European country the most desirable destination.
“'The refugees themselves have already heard that Germany is a safe destination,” says Rosemarie Gotz, a deaconess who has baptized close to 100 Iranians. “Greece is broke, Italy is broke, France is broke and Germany isn’t,” she says chuckling.
"Despite the risks of going through difficult mountainous terrain or getting caught, leaving home has remained the only viable option for a growing group of Iranians who say they will be jailed, tortured and at worst murdered for their religious beliefs. Though there is no specific punishment for apostasy, the rejection or abandonment of one’s former religion, the act is left open to lawmakers’ interpretation. This means the price Iran’s Muslim to Christian converts pay is unpredictable, and potentially life-threatening."
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