What happened?

The British Government has distanced itself from an official letter which claimed that Christianity is a violent religion.

The letter was sent to an Iranian asylum seeker who said he had converted partly because Islam is violent, whereas Christianity preaches “forgiveness and kindness”.

A Home Office official rejected his application, arguing that the Bible contains violent passages. The department is now reconsidering the case, and says the letter did not reflect its policy.

What the media are saying