The Complexity of Religion in Determining Refugee Status

Claims of persecution on the basis of religion are likely to be among the most complex, arcane, and incomprehensible that will need to be decided by an asylum adjudicator. While religion may involve group identity (like race and nationality) or voluntary affiliation (like political and social groupings), it also encompasses an enormous range of human activities and beliefs. This paper seeks to provide useful background information that an adjudicator should consider when interpreting and applying asylum law in religion based claims.