What does ‘safe’ mean for people persecuted for their identites like the non-religious & LGBTQ+? Their risk doesn’t disappear because a country looks stable on paper. Reassessing thousands of cases every 30 months won’t capture that nuance, and the Home Office is already overwhelmed.

The basic problem with the temporary refugee status policy - especially one lasting up to 20 years - is it leads to very few removals (based on Denmark's experience) but does significantly worsen integration.

Seems like a good time (again) to share the guide I developed with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social, which tells you how to talk about refugees and asylum in a way that actually convinces the undecided - based on testing 🧵 www.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...

The Government inherited an asylum system in meltdown, and had managed to at least get cases being processed again while ending the madness of the Rwanda plan. But the policies being announced today undermine all of that, making it harder for refugees to integrate and contribute to their communities

Latest from Kristin Aune, Matt Mayhew & myself on how the cultural climate on university campuses shapes interfaith relations. theconversation.com/how-campus-c... In @uk.theconversation.com

Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community. Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.

📣 My research on apostate asylum claims has been cited in the UN’s Special Rapporteur FoRB interim report! The report explores whether ‘people on the move’ are equally protected within human right provisions for freedom of religion or belief. More here 👉🏻 humanists.uk/2025/10/23/u...

One in, one out, one in again. It is demonstrably not a success for either the government or the man who has had to risk his life twice because of this ridiculous scheme.

Most people are shocked to learn that ALL state-funded in schools are legally required to hold daily acts of worship. We’re campaigning to change that – and replace worship with assemblies that all children can participate in. Want to help us? Donate! humanists.uk/2025/10/14/h...

The Mediterranean continues to be a graveyard for people attempting to reach safety in Europe. 🧵

BREAKING: A man who burnt a Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in London has had his conviction for religiously motivated harassment, alarm, or distress overturned on appeal by Southwark Crown Court. A huge victory for free speech and a blow against the revival of blasphemy laws. 🧵

Her research explores refugees who face persecution for leaving their religion & their experiences of the asylum claims process in the UK. @lucypotter.bsky.social #Research #Asylum #Sociology #Refugees #ESRC

Dr Lucy Potter has joined the Department of Sociology at the University of York as an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, mentored by Dr Anna Strahn. @lucypotter.bsky.social #UniversityofYork #Sociology #Postdoctoral #Research

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day. As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time. At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

Blasphemy-linked violence is becoming an issue in the UK. Non-religious people seeking asylum/refugees are particularly vulnerable to facing criminal charges for expressing their beliefs, such as in anti-blasphemy protests. humanists.uk/2025/09/24/a...

Interesting perspectives on Christian responses to immigration: ‘cultural’ (non-practising) Christians are among the most hostile. As far-right groups weaponise Christianity, I think all beliefs need to unite around shared values of human rights & protection. Listen - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Very worrying for all supporters of a tolerant society to see the London rally this weekend. Besides the the many violent incidents recorded, there were so many blatantly racist signs and Christian nationalist slogans in the crowds. 🧵

The so-called "Unite the Kingdom" rally in London was a chilling sight for anyone who values tolerance. Extremists ripped up a flag that read “Secular Humanism”, a term long-demonised by the American far-right. To truly "Unite the Kingdom", we need to put an end to divisive, imported US rhetoric.

BREAKING: A UN inquiry has concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. All eyes are now on the UK Government who must stop indulging in genocide denial. It must fulfil its legal and moral responsibility by taking immediate, decisive steps to prevent and punish genocide.

They tried students and they tried care workers, but that wasn't enough. Now they're coming for families. My impassioned thoughts on today's sickening family reunion announcement. open.substack.com/pub/notanoth...

Today Nick Ferrari asked if treaties like the ECHR & the Refugee Convention that were drawn up in the wake of WWII are still relevant to modern Britain. I said the context of racial hatred towards Muslim immigrants now echoes the hatred of Jewish immigrants in the 20th century. We need these laws.

The coverage of the Reform plans today really needs to reflect what is being proposed. The plan isn't for a duty to remove people who "arrive" without leave - but for anyone in the UK who doesn't have it. It would be Windrush on steroids.

It's important to assume that Reform in Government would indeed try to do this. The right thing is not to tell the public that this won't happen - so they can therefore vote for Reform without guilt - but rather that a vote for Reform is a vote for the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people.

There's no credible evidence asylum seekers commit more crime, or are guilty of more sexual assaults. I am so sick of being force-fed lies by these mendacious thugs in their expensive suits. share.google/WCAREyAQN5TG...

Saw a banner on the news: ‘British people before boat people’ - it’s a slogan about asylum hotels, but also is an example of racial exclusivism and nationalism that has a long history in the UK.

I regret to inform you that Starmer’s been tweeting dehumanising videos of migrants again. These videos have been shown to increase support for Reform, by increasing salience of migration. He has to go.

There's a reason why the conservatives and far right want to shut down universities and independent media.

'My family decided that if I don’t believe in Allah... I must be crazy. It was as though I had told them I wanted to fling myself into a volcano.' A fantastic interview with Mubarak Bala, the Nigerian humanist and activist who was imprisoned for 'blasphemy'. www.humanism.scot/2025/07/29/m...

As scholars of genocide, we demand an end to Israel’s atrocities | Open letter

A small section of some of our wonderful community @bsasocrel.bsky.social, proud to be running this most important confernce that facilitates these connections!

Delighted to share that I’ve been awarded an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship through the @whiteroseuc.bsky.social, hosted at Uni of York! Excited to continue my research, working with @annastrhan.bsky.social, and join a growing team of postdocs in non-religion in the department! 🥳🎉👏🏻

Just some light reading on my journey home from SocRel courtesy of @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social & spotted a chapter by @mcslaven.bsky.social I look forward to reading! 📚

Chaired a great SocRel PGR/ECR training session on public speaking, communication, and accessibility this week as PGR Officer. Grateful to our three brilliant speakers for sharing such insightful and practical advice with great humour! @bsasocrel.bsky.social

Fantastic PGR/ECR workshop this morning exploring public engagement, framing research and accessibility, and engaging with media by the excellent @jen-studies-death.bsky.social @renasha.bsky.social @robb-s.bsky.social Lots of fantastic tips and insight which I look forward to putting into practice.

Thrilled to have been on this Early Career's Researcher workshop at @BSASocrel #socrel25 with Dr Jennie Riley @jen-studies-death.bsky.social and Dr Rob Barward-Symmons @robb-s.bsky.social on public speaking, comms and accessibility!Such brilliant advice on how to get our research out into the world!

I’m in Durham for SocRel’s Annual Conference! A fitting destination for celebrating 50 years of th study group 🎉 @bsasocrel.bsky.social

Disturbing images from a hate-filled stunt in Northern Ireland last week. A willful denigration of human worth that demands society's renewed commitment to championing empathy and human dignity for all. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

It's not complicated: refuse people safe routes, they'll travel dangerously. When people travel dangerously more die, more are traumatised. @zoejardiniere.bsky.social is spot on here: years of eroding rights in the name of deterrence hasn't worked yet: it's time to try something new.

Happy #WorldHumanistDay! And a big THANK YOU to all of our members for making this incredible, historic week of activism possible. 🧵

Today we remember these beautiful words by Jo Cox, who was murdered #onthisday in 2016 by a far-right extremist. Her positive, optimistic, and caring approach to life and politics had already inspired so many. Her legacy lives on, including through @jocoxfoundation.bsky.social. She is sorely missed.

Back from Humanists UK Convention in Sheffield - the city where my academic journey began! So moving to hear from those who’ve left religion and the real impact that support provided by @faith2faithless.bsky.social has. Such a thoughtful and energising weekend 💜 #Humanists2025

This is SOOO out of date (after slow start to my bluesky journey) but what a joy to come on today and be reminded of a joyful day and an amazing accomplishment!

Looking forward to gathering with friends and colleagues this July for the SocRel Annual Conference - always a highlight in the sociology of religion calendar. I’m especially excited to be organising the PGR/ECR workshop this year, focused on communicating research to a range of audiences 🎤

Had a brilliant weekend at the Amnesty Oyé Festival in Liverpool — full of music, movement, and meaningful conversations. 🌿🎶 Loved seeing how creativity and activism come together to celebrate human rights and push for change. Big thanks to Amnesty and everyone involved! 🧡

Attending today - this is particularly relevant to my own research which analyses Home office Country Policy and Information Notes specifically examining how issues like apostasy and non-religious persecution are represented (or overlooked) in these reports

Hi! 👋 Lots of new faces here via starter packs, so a quick intro: I research non-religion, apostasy & asylum in the UK—especially the experiences of ex-Muslims navigating shifts in identity and belonging.

BREAKING: A man who burnt a Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in London has been found guilty of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm, or distress. The facts of the case are complex. For a comprehensive overview, read our full news article 🧵 humanists.uk/2025/06/02/p...

🧵Today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court: An individual faces charges after burning a religious text outside the Turkish Embassy in London — an act he says was in solidarity with Salwan Momika, who was shot dead in Sweden after a similar protest

The UK has long been a place where so-called ‘apostates’ sought sanctuary—fleeing persecution for exercising freedom of religion, belief, and expression. Tomorrow’s case is a test of the UK’s commitment to upholding freedom of expression as a fundamental right.