Church blocks deportation of asylum-seeker

Dusseldorf: A church in the German city of Solingen has blocked the deportation of an Iranian man by allowing him to stay on its premises under church asylum. The church called on people to come for an early morning service at 5 am (0400 GMT) on Monday in order to show solidarity and prevent authorities from entering the church to arrest the man, who is Christian.
The church argued that the man had a right to asylum because Christians are persecuted in Iran. (dpa)