Abstract
The current global ‘crisis’ of the refugee movement has drawn to the forefront longstanding public worries about welcoming and accommodating refugees, especially in liberal democratic States. While religion is central to refuge, very little is known about the experiences of individuals seeking refugee protection on religious grounds and even the racialisation of religious identities within the asylum adjudication system. Drawing on ethnographic research with Christians from Pakistan, who are seeking asylum in the United Kingdom (UK), this paper explores the religious discrimination that this group faces within the context of the UK’s current hostile environment. Findings reveal a complex issue of misdirected Islamophobia, along with other multi-layered forms of stereotyping. By exploring and engaging with these issues, the paper aims to highlight the complex ‘borders’ that those seeking protection on religious grounds have to negotiate as they move through the asylum adjudication system.
Highlights
While Castle, Haas and Miller (2014) have pointed out that the current era is better understood as the ‘age of migration’, the global refugee phenomenon has increased exponentially to become one of the worst challenges that nation-states face within the twenty-first century
As reflected in the Home Office refusal letter, not knowing the name of the Pope was taken to be indicative of a disingenuous claim: I do not believe that the claimant is a Christian or has any sort of religious profile in Pakistan
Following my interview with Rusul, I spoke to a senior immigration advisor, Debbie, to seek clarification, why not knowing the name of the Pope could raise an alarm in terms of credibility within the asylum adjudication system
Summary
While Castle, Haas and Miller (2014) have pointed out that the current era is better understood as the ‘age of migration’, the global refugee phenomenon has increased exponentially to become one of the worst challenges that nation-states face within the twenty-first century. This paper draws on research from an ‘extreme’ case—that is, the adjudication of faith-based asylum claims—using a case study on Christians from the Muslim majority world ( Pakistan) seeking asylum in the UK.
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