Freedom of religion or belief for all: Recognising and protecting the non-religious in the asylum system
Talk
Dr Lucy Potter, Department of Sociology
This event has now finished.
Event date
Tuesday 24 March 2026, 1pm to 2.30pm
Location
Online only
Audience
Open to alumni, staff, students, the public
Admission
Free admission, booking required
Event details
Report Launch
This report explores the experiences of people who have left their religion (apostates), including former believers and those identifying as humanist, atheist or agnostic, navigate the UK asylum claims process. It highlights particular challenges of determining refugee status for this group, including conducting credibility assessments, satisfying evidential requirements and the role of assumptions in decision-making.
Drawing on in-depth qualitative research, it examines how non-religious identity is understood, assessed, and often misunderstood within asylum decision-making processes. The findings reveal persistent gaps between policy, practice, and lived experience, particularly in how credibility, risk, and belief are evaluated. By centring the voices of applicants and support organisations, the report highlights the urgent need to recognise and protect those who identify as non-religious within asylum-seeking contexts. It concludes with practical recommendations for policymakers, legal practitioners, and civil society actors to better protect freedom of religion or belief, for all.
This report will be of interest to civil society organisations, faith and belief groups, legal practitioners, policymakers, academics, and all those working on asylum, human rights, and freedom of religion or belief.
This report will be of interest to civil society organisations, faith and belief groups, legal practitioners, policymakers, academics, and all those working on asylum, human rights, and freedom of religion or belief.
About the speaker
Lucy Potter is an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Sociological Studies at the University of York. She is a qualitative sociologist whose research specialises in studies of forced migration and non-religion. Her research explores the dynamics between human rights, religion, identity, coloniality and asylum.