Mass baptism of new Christian converts held in Germany

CB Condez Monday, May 09, 2016

Dozens of migrants in Hamburg took part in a mass baptism and communion on May 5, sealing their conversion from Islam to Christianity. However, some expressed doubt on their motives.

Migrants queue on a street to enter the compound outside the Berlin Office of Health and Social Affairs (LAGESO) for their registration process in Berlin, Germany, December 9, 2015. | REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

"That's ridiculous, who are they trying to fool here?" Breitbart quotes one elderly woman as saying. She is apparently not convinced that the converts are sincere.

Converting to Christianity is viewed as a way to get asylum. Since apostasy is punished gravely in the Middle East, converts are at risk if they are sent back to their countries. Thus, some surmise that they have embraced a new religion merely for sake of being allowed to stay.

However, the pastor who officiated the baptisms said that he follows strict guidelines in order to determine and be certain that only those who are sincere are baptized. He said that had come across a good number of migrants who just wanted baptism for the purpose of asylum.

"If I have the impression that someone does not believe from the heart, then I do not baptize him," said Pastor Babajan. "Whoever does not believe will not baptized."

However, converts also fear reprisal from Muslims. Some new Christians were reportedly forced to flee asylum centers due to violence or threats that they received because of their decision. There have reportedly been cases of bullying and intimidation, and an Orthodox priest, according to a January report on Christian Today, wrote a letter to Peter Altmaier, the Federal Minister for Special Affairs and Head of the German Federal Chancellery, to look into this "brutal harassment." He also mentioned a suggestion to have Muslims and Christians be housed separately.

"It has been shown that we can not openly profess Christianity ourselves in Germany," said one woman who was baptized on Thursday. "Here the Muslims are stronger than the Christians. It is this Islam we fled."

According to Stern, some 80 men and women who have migrated from Iran and Afghanistan were baptized on Germany's Father's Day, which coincides with Christianity's day of Ascension.