✣ What happened?
Three archbishops from Iraq and Syria were re¬fused entry into Britain. They had been invited by the Syriac Orthodox Church in Britain for the consecration of its first cathedral. Archbishop Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf of Mosui; Timothius Mousa Shamani, Archbishop of St Matthew's, Nineveh Valley; and Archbishop Selwanos Boutros Alnemeh ofHoms and Hama were all refused visas.
The bishops were refused entry because it was thought they might not return home.
What commentators are saying
The Daily Express ran the story on its front page. In an editorial condemning the decision, it said: "Last week we learned that 650,000 immigrants made their way to Britain, the highest level yet. And yet somehow, while letting all these in, officials contrived to ban these three wise men who have risked their lives for the Christian faith. Mary and Joseph were told there was no room at the inn. At this time of the year in particular we would do well to be more mindful of the Christmas message."
The Anglican commentator Giles Fraser tweeted that the decision was "utterly bonkers", while the Archbishop Cranmer blog said: "Bishops banned? Why on earth, when we roll out the red carpet for hate preachers and those who incite the murder of Christians?"
Lord Alton of Liverpool said: "When the Syrian Orthodox patriarch told me that these three bishops had been refused visas to come to the UK for the consecration of the new Syrian Orthodox cathedral, I greeted it with incredulity and disbelief. It's a decision that brings shame on our country.
"These amazingly courageous bishops come from the Mosul region of Iraq - where Christians have been beheaded, crucified, raped and either forcibly converted or forced to flee as their possessions have been seized by radical Islamists. It adds insult to injury that Britain would refuse admission to men who pose no threat and whose community has suffered so much - especially when we still fail to bring to justice jihadists who have committed genocide."
