Church-harboured Sudanese refugee Anna Lado was held up as Finland's poster girl in the struggle against immigration authorities.

On Monday, different religious organisations met in Kuopio to consider the church's role as a place of refuge for people like Lado. The participants were pleasantly surprised to hear Lado's good news: Finland's immigration authorities have granted her an alien's passport, along with the right to remain in the country for a year.

Matti Heinonen, Branch Manager with the Finnish Immigration Service confirmed that Lado, who once lived in hiding, can now exist freely in Finland for as long as she wishes, and can even apply for citizenship once she's fulfilled residence criteria.

At least three other asylum seekers sheltered by religious authorities last year were not as fortunate. One refugee has already been deported, while two others are still anxiously awaiting the authorities' decisions.

Turku parishioners harbouring the Iraqi Kurd Naze Aghai are hoping that the humanity displayed in Anna Lado's case has set a favourable precedent.

The immigration authorities themselves aren't promising much, but even they admit that in many cases, time is on the refugees' side.

YLE