Outcomes from a UN side event, highlighting critical gaps in refugee protection for religious minorities, including testimonies and UN recommendations.
At a dedicated United Nations side event, Philoi Global, the World Evangelical Alliance, and the Refugee Highway Partnership spotlighted critical gaps in protection for refugees facing religious persecution. Policymakers and UN representatives heard firsthand testimonies supplied by Philoi Global, leading to concrete recommendations on asylum and religious freedom.
Introduction
Philoi Global organised a dedicated side event to support the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), Ms. Nazila Ghanea, as she prepared to present her 2025 report to the General Assembly’s Third Committee. This report examined global violations of FoRB, with a particular focus on the experiences of migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and refugees.
Testimonies Illustrating Critical Protection Gaps
Philoi sponsored and collaborated with five Christian refugees from Afghanistan, Iran, and Myanmar to present their stories directly to UN representatives. These testimonies highlighted the trauma, discrimination, and dangerous uncertainty faced by believers whose faith places them at severe risk:
Sami*, a Rohingya Christian, described the dual discrimination tied to his ethnicity and faith, noting that despite UNHCR registration he remains without a viable resettlement pathway.
Jasmine*, a young Iranian Christian, spoke of years of displacement and barriers that cut off her access to education: “Refugeehood is not a choice.”
Lena*, an Iranian survivor of torture, shared the ongoing deprivation she faces even after fleeing persecution.
Nara*, an Afghan Christian, recounted her family’s disappearance at the hands of the Taliban and the four years she and her siblings have spent in limbo.
Aneela*, also from Afghanistan, expressed fear of forced returns by states that refuse to recognise religious persecution as grounds for protection.
Below is one testimony that was presented, with some details omitted to protect her identity:
"I heard about Christianity from one of my friends, and was baptised secretly in Iran. I held underground house church meetings, which were constantly raided by Iranian officials. Any time we would worship, they attacked us physically so that we would stop and disperse.
We could not hold any church meetings. We had no religious freedom.
On several occasions, security agents aggressively warned me to stop sharing Christianity. But the love of Jesus is deeply rooted in my heart, and we could not stop.
One day I was blindfolded, kidnapped, and forced to spend the night in a dark room. I was then transferred to the infamous Evin Prison, where I was psychologically and physically abused in unending interrogations. I was accused of 'acting against national security' because of my Christian activities.
I was eventually given vail, but was strongly recommended to leave the country due to the seriousness of my crimes. My family and I fled to Turkey where we have been for 10 years now. We are deprived of the very basic human rights here. We have no social welfare and cannot work. I was sentenced to 10 years in jail time in Iran.
I do not know what would happen to me if I were forced to return. Our case was rejected by Australia. I thank God that I have Jesus, and for my brothers and sisters who can hear me and plead to be my voice. Please break the borders and support and protect the outcasts. It is trust we have refuge in Christ, but life here is unbearable."
These stories echoed a troubling global pattern: shrinking pathways to safety for those fleeing violence because of their Christian faith.
Many asylum seekers continue to face the threat of deportation to countries where their conversion is known and dangerous. Policies – both domestic and international – that deny the existence of Christian minorities in certain regions further undermine their ability to seek protection.
Philoi Global Director Addresses the UN
The Special Rapporteur, Ms. Nazila Ghanea, underscored that violations of freedom of religion or belief often compound other human-rights abuses, particularly for displaced populations.
Following her address, Jude Simion who serves on the global leadership team of the RHP and Executive Director of Philoi Global, highlighted the overlapping vulnerabilities that Christians and other religious minorities face in seeking asylum, as host countries increasingly implement hostile, rights-violating policies to deter refugees.
"Their suffering is not only the result of displacement, but also of ethnic and religious ideologies systematically rooted in their host countries."
Three urgent themes emerged:
- Overlapping vulnerabilities faced by religious minorities in displacement contexts.
- Fear of refoulement, even from states that are signatories to the Refugee Convention.
- Non-viable resettlement pathways, with fewer than 1% of refugees resettled worldwide.
Outcomes and Recommendations
The Special Rapporteur’s report fills a critical gap by centering asylum seekers, refugees, and stateless individuals within global human-right discussions.
The following outcomes were agreed upon:
Strengthening safeguards against refoulement for those facing religious persecution.
Ensuring fair, transparent refugee status determination processes that recognise unique risks to religious minorities.
Improving coordination between UN member states, UNHCR, human-rights bodies, and faith-based organisations.
Why This Event Matters
The event successfully connected the lived realities of displaced religious minorities to UN policy spaces ahead of the Special Rapporteur’s Third Committee presentation.
For many Christian refugees, deportation can mean disappearance. Their voices are rarely heard in international policy spaces, and their persecution is often denied by the very systems meant to protect them. This event offered an essential platform – amplifying their experiences and urging the international community to respond with clarity, compassion, and action.
Philoi Global extends sincere thanks to all who supported and helped coordinate this significant moment of advocacy.
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