Christian asylum seeker Amir Mesrinejad says his spirits have received a welcome lift from news the Prime Minister is examining plans to release long-term detainees.
"It has given us all a lot of hope," he says, speaking to The Age, on behalf of a number of other long-term detainees amongst whom he has developed a Christian ministry.
Mr Mesrinejad has become the confidant of a number of newly converted detainees, as well as a welcome participant in weddings and Christian acitivities.
The Prime Minister is reportedly considering a plan that would allow asylum seekers like him who have been detained for longer than three years to be released into the community.
Mr Mesrinejad has spent nearly four years in Villawood Detention Centre.
"It is like being on death row and waiting your execution," he says.
But it was in Villawood that the Iranian detainee became a Christian while translating Bible studies for visiting Anglican minister, the Rev. Stewart Binns.
Since then Mr Mesrinejad has led several other asylum seekers to Christ, as well as being actively involved in bringing about peaceful resolutions to disputes among detainees.
However yesterday he became caught up in federal opposition accusations that asylum seekers were converting to from Islam to Christianity to improve their chances of gaining refugee status.
Muslims who convert to Christianity currently face the death penalty if they are returned to Iran.
However Archbishop Peter Jensen has publicly defended the validity of Mr. Amir's conversion.
Archbishop Jensen visited with Mr Mesrinejad in Villawood for a period of three hours and has discussed his case in detail with clergy involved with caring for him.
He has used an ABC radio interview to affirm that he believes the Iranian asylum seeker's faith is utterly sincere.
"We do not think that for example if he was go back to Iran he would suddenly declare himself to be Muslim."
Dr Jensen still hopes the Government will take seriously the persecution Mr Mesrinejad is likely to face were he to be deported.
"This man has already suffered a degree of persecution in Iran. That is why he has fled,” Archbishop Jensen says.
"His family has recently been harassed. Whether in a public or more likely in a private way his life would be in danger."
