The Secular Policy Institute and Atheist Alliance International call on the UN High Commissioner for┬áHuman Rights and the United States to intervene and begin┬áasylum┬áproceedings for two individuals who face imminent risk to life and limb.┬áAn Iranian and a Pakistani expatriate whose countries of origin employ capital punishment for apostasy have been denied┬áasylum┬áin India and Malaysia. An overarching first principle of┬áasylum┬áand refugee policy is to protect those who have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons for race, religion, nationality, participation in a social group, or political opinion. Where the network of international agreements and treaties is neither comprehensive nor consistent, the clear commitment from the majority of states, NGOÔÇÖs and Civil Society Actors is to aid the most vulnerable and those in the most imminent of danger.
