Your religion is an important part of your life and culture. You may be in a situation where you have been persecuted because of your religion, but are not sure what to say about it. The guidance provided below was written for the Canadian context, but the principles are generally applicable to other countries that adopt Convention criteria for people who qualify for refugee status.
The connection between religion and persecution is sometimes difficult to prove.
It is generally quite easy to prove one’s membership in a group identified by race or gender, and it may be obvious that an act of persecution is based on that ground. For example, instances of sexual assault by men against women are typically understood to be associated with gender.
Moreover, the fact that you are a member of your religion may not be obvious to others. Your identification as a Buddhist, Christian, or Muslim can be subjective and personal. Your religion may relate to feelings and thoughts that others may never have. Your religion may also be something that you were born into because you are part of a certain family or community. There may be no visible evidence of your religious affiliation.
Ways of talking about religion
There are different ways to talk about your religion. One way is by showing your knowledge of your religion. Another way is to describe experiences of your religion. You could also explain the reasoning for your conduct or choices.
Reminding yourself of the religious doctrine and history that the RPD member (adjudicator) may expect you to know is not the only way to be prepared. The religion that is most connected to your life and culture is also revealed through your personal journey and what you experienced as a religious person. Hence being prepared means reviewing facts of your experiences so that they can be recalled easily.
The acts that contributed to your well-founded fear of persecution occurred along a timeline: in the same way, your religious experiences occurred over time, with many memorable key events. Take time to document both timelines along with the dates and events for each. As you write, clarify how they relate to each other.
Consider the following guidance when preparing your story.
Explain your experiences
- Think through the significant experiences that define and confirm your membership in your religion, including conversion experiences. Review all the facts (names, times, locations, events) associated with these experiences.
- Reflect on how committed you are to your religion, and the developments in your life that led to this. Think about how you can show that you are a devoted follower of your religion.
Explain your history
- Examine how history of your parents or ancestors has led to your membership in your religion. Recall any details about their religious story and how you became included in it.
- Locate the places associated with your history. Recall how your religion is linked to the regions that your parents or ancestors came from. Reflect on how it is shaped by the new locations that your family travelled to.
Explain your background
- Review the religious scriptures or songs that are important to you. Examine whether your memory of specific writings or rules matches their importance to you. If possible, trace back the name and time of the source (book, leader) for anything that you had learned from someone else.
- Consider the vocabulary that people outside your country use to describe your religion. If an experience was associated with a particular religious denomination, place of worship, denominational leader, or annual festival, ensure that you know all relevant details using words that an adjudicator can understand.
Explain your thinking
- Prepare to explain how you see the most important figures or pillars of your religion and what they mean to you. This includes any divine beings, prophets or saints, festivals or rituals, or sacred sites.
- Recall the important decisions and actions that you made as a member of your religion. Reflect on all the reasoning that led to these milestones, turning points, or changes in your life.
- Develop an explanation of what is most meaningful to you about your religion. Compare this with the typical experience of other members of your religion and understand why this meaning has become special for you.
- Compare your religious behaviour with non-religious people in your country, especially if such actions are unusual, unlikely, or risky. Prepare to explain how your religion has resulted in your conduct or the conduct of others in your group.
Explain your circumstances
- Explain the behaviours or identifiers (e.g., clothing) that would lead others to conclude that you are part of religion and therefore should be unwelcomed. Show that you participate regularly with others in such behaviours.
- Include any descriptions of what your persecutors said to you about you and your religion as you were being persecuted. If you have documentation or recordings to support any of the above, they would be helpful.
The above guidance is intended to help the member of any religion to clearly communicate the reality and meaning of their religion when it is appropriate to do so. It does not suggest that your hearing will necessarily focus on any or all of these areas. Moreover, talking about these areas must also be done in a way that is credible to the adjudicator.
Discuss with your legal counsel about how best to tell your story and ensure that all your facts are plausible and consistent. Practise the explanation of the above points to see whether others can understand you.
Disclaimer: This website does not contain legal advice. For all legal questions, it is best to consult with a qualified lawyer. The information contained on this website may not be current due to changes since the time it was written.
Religious Refugees 