THE UK Home Office has quoted bloodthirsty passages from the bible in a rejection letter to an Iranian asylum seeker, which his immigration caseworker worker has described as “unbelievably offensive diatribe”.

In his application, the man said he had converted to Christianity because it was more peaceful than his original religion Islam.

However, the Home Office rejected his claim, with the refusal letter quoting the biblical books of Leviticus and Revelation. The letter read: “In Leviticus, chapter 26, God states ‘You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundreds of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you’.

“Similarly, the book of Revelation is filled with imagery of revenge, destruction, death and violence … These examples are inconsistent with your claim that you converted to Christianity after discovering it as a ‘peaceful’ religion, as opposed to Islam which contains violence, rage and revenge.”

Redacted images of the rejection letter were shared online by London immigration caseworker Nathan Stevens, who specialises in applications based on religious conversion.

He said had had previously received refusal letters with similar remarks, and added: “I’ve seen a lot over the years, but even I was genuinely shocked to read this unbelievably offensive diatribe being used to justify a refusal of asylum.”

Another refusal said the applicant had said Jesus was their saviour, but he would not be able to save them from the Iranian regime, adding: “It is therefore considered that you have no conviction in your faith and your belief in Jesus is half-hearted.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “This letter is not in accordance with our policy approach to claims based on religious persecution, including conversions to a particular faith.”