Assessing the Intangible - Converts and Apostates seeking Asylum in the Netherlands

Master thesis A.A.E. (Hannelore) Schouwstra, MA Religion, Conflict, and Globalization
University of Groningen, July 2023

Schouwstra discerns a problematic bias in the IND(1) work instruction 2022/3 for the assessment of conversion and apostasy in that the work instruction takes its starting point in the Protestant Christian perspective of conversion. The thesis is welcomed by Gave as a solid scholarly discussion of the IND procedures re apostasy and conversion that should be heeded.

(1) Immigration and Naturalisation Service

Thesis abstract

This thesis is aimed at a specific part of the asylum policy of the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service: the integral credibility assessment for convert and apostate asylum seekers. The research question is: what is the space for bias in the Dutch credibility assessment of converts and apostates? This question is answered through a policy document analysis, interviews and a media content analysis in the context of grounded theory. It turns out that there is a vast space for subjectivity in this assessment and there is a Western Protestant bias laced through the central concepts as well as the assessment itself. It is unclear how the IND aims to avoid bias and the external pressure the IND deals with seems to increase that risk even more. To change the credibility assessment, there is publicly advocated for these asylum seekers by NGOs and political parties. Most of the attention for this topic comes from Christian organizations and politicians and is also mostly aimed on Christian converts. The way there is dealt with the credibility assessment in policy as well as how there is dealt with these third parties by the Dutch state points to a risk of Christian privilege and a secular Christian hegemony. There is awareness and more expertise needed on policy bias as well as conversion and apostasy to be able to assess asylum seekers equally and correctly. The freedom of thought, conscience and religion need to be guaranteed for citizens and non-citizens alike.

Discussion

In 2019 Gave published the report “Credibility of Conversion“, discussing the work instruction 2018/10 that preceded the present work instruction 2022/3 and that is still the basis for the assessment procedures outlined in 2022/3. Apostasy and, e.g., atheism were not much discussed in this report, although some attention is being paid to the western approach of apostasy (p. 10). In January 2022 the Dutch Council of State ruled that IND should improve and clarify their procedures for the assessment of the credibility of apostasy and atheism. This was implemented in the new work instruction 2022/3, which, however, took its starting point still in the procedures for the assessment of conversion to another religion. Gave discussed the new paragraph on appostasy in a report in Dutch and concluded that the implementation of apostasy was still much wanting.

Schouwstra’s thesis is welcomed as a most needed scholarly discussion of the issues involved that IND should heed. Schouwstra rightly argues that the work instruction’s focus on the final destination of a process of change in religion or belief is problematic and that the focus should be on the journey itself:

“The concept of ‘deconversion’ is more all-encompassing and an acknowledgment of the entire journey of belief, that knows no destination but is an ongoing migration.” (p. 25)

Schouwstra rightly concludes that

“Apostasy is seen as the exception of conversion, a phase in conversion or positioned in opposition to conversion. It seems that converts are prioritized in every way when compared to apostates. At the same time there is a central similarity: in conversion as well as apostasy there is turned away from something. Conversion is just one possible trajectory in the journey through the religious field and for apostasy there are many options as well. A journey of (un)belief can go many ways and does not solidify when someone crosses into the Dutch outer sphere. Hence, the categories of the IND are too simplified, attempting to put all kinds of labels under either ‘apostasy’ or ‘conversion’.” (p. 38)

Gave also believes that Schouwstra offers insights that IND cannot ignore if they want to deal with increasing complexity about which they reported in December 2023. In a discussion of the IND report on complexity (in Dutch), Gave concluded that IND implemented atheism and apostasy in the revised work instruction in a way that contributed to increased complexity:

“On p. 28 [of the IND report], it is reported that in the course of time, the assessment procedures were elaborated by the inclusion of atheism and apostasy as asylum motives in the work instruction, in addition to conversion. This representation is rather curious. After all, the assessment is still about the question: what are the applicant’s beliefs and what is the risk in the country of origin. The core of the problem was that the work instruction was set up from the perspective of a conversion to another religion and that apostasy and atheism were implemented afterwards. The result gave rise to questions by the Council of State to which IND had no clear answer. This led the Council of State to the ruling that IND had to improve its procedures for atheism and apostasy, which resulted in a considerable expansion of the work instruction, that still raises many questions. Thus, the increased complexity is not caused by a need for elaborate expansion of the work instruction, but by the way it was initially drafted and subsequently revised.”

(Gave report “Is de complexiteit veranderd?“, June 2024, p. 4)

Schouwstra’s recommendation to focus on the journey from the former religion or belief towards… whatever may follow (no belief, atheism, Christianity or whatever) will surely be helpful in reducing complexity as it is the only way to really allow the applicant to relate his personal, authentic story, instead of the case worker being pre-occupied by a focus on what the ‘end of the journey’ would be and the implications that this can have on the kind of questions that are being asked.

Trefwoorden: afvalligheid, bekering, redeneren vanuit eigen context