Legal
The Exit Strategy
Legal pathways for those the state has marked for erasure.
What Is Asylum?
Asylum is a form of international protection granted by a country to individuals who cannot return home safely due to persecution. It is a right enshrined in the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. When you apply for asylum, you are asking a government to recognize that your own state has failed to protect you or has become the source of the threat itself. If approved, you are granted legal status, refugee status, and the right to remain in that country.
Why Asylum Matters in the Gulf Context
The Gulf presents a unique asylum challenge. Most cases involve not war or ethnic cleansing, but legal persecution: laws that criminalize dissent, trap workers through debt bondage or strip citizens of their nationality as punishment. Western asylum systems are often unfamiliar with these mechanisms, making documentation essential. You must prove that the harm you face is targeted, systemic and tied to who you are or what you have said and not simply "bad working conditions" or "political disagreement." This is where evidence becomes your defence.
When Asylum May Be Relevant
Labour Exploitation
If you were subjected to forced labour, passport confiscation or wage theft, and reporting it would expose you to retaliation or criminal charges (e.g., "absconding" laws).
Political Persecution
If you face arrest, torture or imprisonment for activism or online criticism of the government.
Gender-Based Persecution
If you are a woman fleeing male guardianship abuse, domestic violence with no state recourse or laws that criminalize "disobedience."
LGBTQ+ Persecution
If you face arrest or violence due to your sexual orientation or gender identity, which is criminalized in all six GCC states.
Statelessness
If your citizenship has been revoked or you were born stateless (e.g., Bedoon in Kuwait, children of denaturalized parents in Bahrain), leaving you without legal identity or protection.
Legal Disclaimer
Their Freedom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or representation. We do not guarantee asylum approval. The information on this page is for orientation only. Each asylum case is unique and depends on individual circumstances, country-specific laws and available evidence. We strongly recommend consulting with a qualified immigration attorney.
Legal Organizations Directory
Independent law firms and clinics that provide asylum and immigration support.
United Kingdom
Germany
Canada
Legal Aid Ontario
Focus:
Refugee claims
Detention review
Statelessness
Canadian Centre for Refugee & Immigrant Healthcare
Focus:
Ensuring healthcare for refugees and immigrants
The Refugee Centre
Focus:
Legal information and application support for refugee and asylum claims
Immigration & Refugee Legal Clinic
Focus:
Free legal representation for low-income refugee claimants and migrants
How to Prepare (If Safe to Do So)
Evidence is the foundation of an asylum claim. If you can safely collect and store documentation, prioritize:
Employment contracts or offer letters
Pay records, bank statements showing unpaid wagesrs
Screenshots of threats, messages or social media abuse
Medical reports documenting injuries or psychological harm
Police summons, court documents or arrest warrants
News articles mentioning you or your case
Do not risk your safety to collect evidence. Your testimony is also evidence.
Secure Contact Forms
For General Asylum Inquiries
Use this contact if you are seeking orientation, need to be connected with a legal organization or have questions about the asylum process.
info@their-freedom.com
For Sensitive Cases (High-Risk Individuals)
Use this contact if you are a political prisoner's family member, a victim of state surveillance or someone at immediate risk of retaliation. This contact uses end-to-end encryption and does not store metadata.
urgent@their-freedom.com
We treat every inquiry with the seriousness it deserves. If you reach out, we will respond. If we cannot help directly, we will connect you with someone who can.