Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Religion & Law Blogs -> Religion Clause

Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

Supreme Court's Asylum Decision Important For Victims of Religious Persecution

By Howard M. Friedman

Last week the U.S. Supreme Court decided Negusie v. Holder, (Sup. Ct., March 3, 2009). It held the provision in U.S. immigration law that denies asylum to anyone who assisted in persecution of others does not necessarily apply to those whose assistance was coerced. A release from the Becket Fund praising the decision points out that it has important implications for victims of religious persecution. Becket Fund's amicus brief in the case argued: "Authoritarian governments around the world and throughout history have forced religious people to participate in the persecution of fellow believers in order to violate their own consciences. The reason is simple: conscience is a threat to tyranny."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 13, 2009 (boomark / email).