Comprehensive new toolkit published for recognising and supporting asylum claims based on non-religion and apostasy

Humanists UK announced last week that a new toolkit has been released that sets out practical guidance for assessing and supporting asylum claims based on non-religious beliefs and apostasy, including recommendations on credibility assessments, interviews, evidential requirements and support for claimants.

Protecting the Non-Religious: A Toolkit for Recognising and Supporting Asylum Claims Based on Non-Religion and Apostasy was developed and authored by Dr Lucy Potter, an ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of York, in collaboration with Humanists UK, Migrants' Rights Network and a Lived Experience Advisory Group comprising people who have sought asylum after leaving religion.

You can download the toolkit from here, with the direct link to the 61-page file being here.

The toolkit's purpose is described as "to increase understanding of non-religion and apostasy in asylum contexts, improve awareness of the challenges individuals may face, and provide practical guidance for delivering informed and inclusive support."

It draws on a review of Home Office policy and guidance, international human rights law, 12 in-depth interviews with people who sought asylum in the UK because of their non-religious beliefs, and 22 interviews with lawyers, human rights advocates and other professionals. The claimant participants came from Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Saudi Arabia, and had all previously identified as Muslim.

The research identified difficulties faced by claimants whose asylum cases concern leaving religion or holding non-religious beliefs. These included expectations that they demonstrate detailed theological knowledge of their former religion, identify a specific moment when they became atheist, or describe their beliefs using terminology that did not reflect their own understanding.

The toolkit is divided into three parts: addressing asylum decision-making and processing; advocacy and assistance; and the personal perspectives of people with lived experience.

Part A, on practice and processing, considers misconceptions about non-religious claimants, credibility assessment, interview procedures, the use of interpreters and the treatment of evidence. It recommends focusing on the development of an individual's beliefs and experiences of leaving religion, rather than applying assumptions about how apostasy or non-religion should be expressed. It also addresses the relevance of Home Office Country Policy and Information Notes, oral testimony, intersectional risks and claims based on circumstances arising after arrival in the UK.

On evidence, the toolkit cautions against treating the absence of documentary material as inherently suspicious. It notes: "Decision-makers should recognise that evidence of non-religious identity or apostasy is often inherently difficult to produce, particularly where individuals have concealed their beliefs for safety reasons or where risks arise through informal social, family, or community mechanisms rather than formal state documentation. It is typical that apostate claims have limited external evidence because many will keep their beliefs private, for fear of persecution, and secular networks in countries of origins and asylum-receiving countries may be inaccessible. There is also an element of shame and denial with apostasy which prevents individuals from speaking out until they feel safe and accepted, if at all."

A helpful short summary of Part A states:

"The key takeaway from this guide is that non-religious apostasy is distinct from religious conversion and asylum interview practice and the assessment of credibility and should therefore focus on claimants' lived experience in consideration of circumstances and externally known facts.

"The document also emphasises that claims should be assessed holistically, recognising that apostasy and non-religious identity may be intersectional and interact with other protected grounds. It highlights the importance of recognising sur place claims, where belief change or non-belief may emerge after departure from the country of origin.

"In terms of evidentiary expectations, the guide stresses that limited documentary evidence is typical and should not be treated as exceptional. Decision-makers are encouraged to adopt a context-sensitive approach, drawing on Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs), NGO reporting, and expert evidence where relevant, while avoiding penalising applicants for the absence of corroboration that may not reasonably be obtainable.

"Overall, the toolkit promotes a more reflective, trauma-informed, and context-aware approach to decision-making that better captures the complexity of belief change and non-religious identity."

Part B addresses the role of lawyers, charities and other support organisations. It provides guidance on preparing claims, asylum interviews, types of evidence, appeals and expert evidence, as well as drafting supporting statements and facilitating social support. It also identifies gaps in existing support provision and recommends more inclusive approaches to language, policies and services.

Part B's summary explains: "This section highlights the importance of equipping practitioners with the knowledge, resources, and awareness needed to effectively support people seeking asylum, particularly those who are apostates or identify as non-religious. It emphasises that while the UK asylum system is complex for all applicants, apostate claimants often face additional barriers due to the relative absence of dedicated support structures comparable to those available for religious communities."

A brief Part C draws on the experiences of people who have left religion and sought protection in the UK. It covers the process of understanding and describing a non-religious identity, the consequences of leaving religion for personal relationships, preparation for asylum interviews, and finding safe spaces and support while awaiting a decision.

Humanists UK said the resource combined research with the experiences of people who had been through the asylum system, with the aim of helping decision-makers assess individual circumstances and risks rather than relying on assumptions about apostates or non-religious people.

Humanists UK Support and Advocacy Services Manager commented: "This toolkit offers something that has been badly needed. It combines rigorous research with the voices of people who have actually been through the asylum system and turns that learning into practical guidance for the people making decisions and providing support. We hope it will help decision-makers move away from assumptions about what an apostate or non-religious person should look or sound like, and instead focus on the individual, their experiences, and the risks they genuinely face."