London: Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Thailand live in constant fear due to the country’s refusal to recognise refugees, leaving them vulnerable to arrest and detention. Increasingly, many within this community are expressing deep frustration after years of living in limbo. With limited progress on resettlement options and shrinking avenues for sponsorship, some are now considering voluntary return to Pakistan—despite the very real dangers they originally fled.

This growing sense of desperation was further highlighted during a recent Zoom meeting between the British Asian Christian Association (BACA), United by Faith, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Bangkok (click here). While discussions explored possible return pathways, it became clear that funding cuts and reduced programme capacity have significantly limited support options, leaving many asylum seekers with few viable choices.

Victor Rehmat

BACA’s food grant program brings hope to beleaguered Christian asylum seekers in Thailand. This support offers a vital lifeline to a community trapped in uncertainty and searching for safety, dignity, and compassion.

Patras Asif

On 31st March 2025, just days before Easter, the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) delivered critical support to 10 vulnerable Pakistani Christian asylum-seeking families in Thailand, offering relief at a time when fear and uncertainty dominate daily life.

Maria Asif

For years, thousands of Pakistani Christians fleeing violent persecution have sought refuge in Thailand. Yet despite the desperate circumstances that drive them from their homeland, Thailand does not recognise asylum seekers, leaving families in a state of perpetual limbo. Without legal status, they cannot work, access healthcare, or enrol their children in school. Instead, they must survive as undocumented migrants—constantly threatened by arrest, detention, and deportation.

Amir Vincent

Asylum-seeking families report regular police raids, with many already arrested and taken to the notorious Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) in Bangkok. Fear has confined families to their homes, forcing parents to choose between hiding and risking exposure to find food for their children.

Kanwal Aneeka Adan

Amid this worsening crisis, BACA continues to stand by vulnerable Christian families. Through its FOOD Grant Program, BACA provided each selected family with 1,000 Thai Baht (approximately £25)—a modest but essential amount that helps secure food, rent, medicines, and milk for infants.

Naseem Amir

One beneficiary, Patras Asif, expressed his gratitude and ongoing need:

“With the £25 that I have received from BACA, I can feed my family. I request continued support as I have no business or job in Thailand.”

Salman Rafiq

Komal Aneeka Adan, a mother of three, shared her struggles:

“BACA, we are extremely thankful for helping us with £25. We will buy food for our family with this help. We don’t have employment here in Thailand, and my husband is jobless, so this support is crucial to us.”

Roomi Tabassum Qaiser

BACA also supported the family of Joseph Dominic with £100. This family of five—Joseph Dominic (62), Aqeela Dominic (48), their sons Abishai (25) and Joseph (28), and daughter Marsha (27)—have lived in Thailand for over a decade without any stable income. Their UNHCR case has now been closed, leaving them in an even more precarious situation.

This particular support was made possible after a request from Msgr Dr Michael Nazir-Ali who is also an Anglican Bishop Emieritus for Rochester  In an email to Juliet Chowdhry, he explained that a contact had asked whether this Pakistani family could be assisted in Bangkok, describing their circumstances as desperate.  Juliet Chowdhry has a long-standing familial relationship with Msgr Michael, whose friendship with her late father, Yousaf Masih, dates back to his time as a student pastor under Msgr Michael while he worked with the Church of Pakistan.

Gershon Joseph, one of the family members, expressed his heartfelt gratitude:

“I am thankful to BACA for helping us with £100. This support comes at a difficult time when we had absolutely nothing left to sustain ourselves.”

Aqeela Dominic, Gershon Joseph and Joseph Dominic

Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian Association, said:  “Every day, these families face fear, uncertainty, and the very real threat of detention or deportation. With IOM grants reduced and UNHCR support diminishing, the gap in essential services is growing—and private donors are now more critical than ever. Some asylum seekers have been living in limbo in Thailand for over a decade, trapped in a system that makes it nearly impossible to access protection or rebuild their lives. At BACA, our mission is to stand alongside them—not just with food and financial support, but with hope, dignity, and a voice that demands change. More must be done to convince the Royal Thai Government to widen their asylum schemes, allowing genuine asylum seekers to be accepted more quickly without the need to endure Thailand’s infamous and brutal Immigration Detention Centres. Together, we can ensure these vulnerable families are not forgotten and that they have a path toward safety, security, and a future.”

As conditions worsen and support pathways diminish, many families remain caught between the fear of returning to persecution and the harsh realities of life in Thailand. In this climate of uncertainty, BACA’s ongoing assistance not only meets urgent physical needs but also restores a sense of hope to those who feel increasingly forgott