van Loon, Kylee
(2025)
FAITH ON TRIAL: CONVERSION IN DUTCH MIGRATION POLITICS.
Research master thesis, Master Theologie Religiewetenschappen res.
Abstract
Religious conversion has no universal definition in legal context, even though it is one of the
grounds a person can apply for asylum. This lack of direction raises important questions on how
conversion is interpreted and assessed. Thus this thesis aims to answer how religious conversion
is understood in migration politics, in particular in the Netherlands, by analysing the work
method of the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Services in handling conversion claims.
Through conducting a content and discourse analysis on the WI Bekeerlingen en afvalligen,
interviews with parties involved in the asylum process and field research the main question is
answered. This thesis found that conversion in Dutch migration politics is defined in an
institutional and functional convenient way with the aim to exclude rather than protect asylum
seekers. Both religion and conversion have no universally accepted definitions as its meaning is
shaped by personal background and cultural context. While the WI leaves room for broad
interpretations and inclusivity, it still holds a rigid definition of conversion. In which the
decisions of a case worker is shaped by their broader cultural and political understanding of
religion and conversion. It is unclear if the training of the IND takes into account this influence
or if it actively encourages it. Whilst a working framework and understanding of conversion is
needed to successfully assess conversion in the asylum procedures, it needs to be questioned
what framework is being used and if this framework is humane, diverse and subjective enough
| Type: |
Thesis
(Research master)
|
| Supervisors (RUG): |
| Supervisor | E-mail | Tutor organization | Tutor email |
|---|
| Wilson, E.K. | | Faculteit GGW, Faculteit Religie, Cultuur en Maatschappij | E.K.Wilson@rug.nl | | Carpenedo Rodrigues, M. | | Faculteit GGW, Christendom en Ideeengeschiedenis | m.carpenedo.rodrigues@rug.nl |
|
| Degree programme: |
Master Theologie Religiewetenschappen res |
| Academic year: |
2024-2025 |
| Date of delivery: |
03 Feb 2026 10:48 |
| Last modified: |
03 Feb 2026 10:48 |
| URI: |
https://rcs.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/865 |
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