The Refugee Convention 1951 defines a refugee as someone with a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. Each ground requires a distinct analytical approach and expert evidence strategy.
Political opinion persecution encompasses both actual and imputed opinion. RT (Zimbabwe) [2012] confirmed that imputed opinion is valid even where the appellant holds no genuine political views. Religious persecution covers belief, practice, conversion, and imputed religious identity under Article 9 of the Qualification Directive.
Particular social group is the most complex ground, requiring both a shared protected characteristic and social perception in the country of origin. Persecution experts help solicitors identify the correct ground or grounds and instruct appropriately for tribunal proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I identify the correct persecution ground?
Review the appellant's profile, the nature of the feared harm, and the reason for targeting. Multiple grounds may apply. A persecution expert can advise on which Convention ground or grounds best fit the factual matrix before you draft grounds of appeal.
Can multiple Convention grounds apply to one claim?
Yes. Ethnic persecution may overlap with political opinion where ethnicity is associated with a political cause. Gender-based claims may engage both PSG and religion grounds. Persecution experts assess all applicable grounds and advise on the strongest nexus.