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Lucy Potter

@lucypotter.bsky.social

ESRC Postdoc at the Uni of York | PhD in non-religion, apostasy & asylum | Sociologist exploring identities, human and refugee rights & (de)coloniality https://linktr.ee/drlucypotter

100 Posts2553 Follower733 Folgt
Runnymede Trust@runnymedetrust.bsky.social · 2d ago

From widespread racist violence, to attacks on places of worship and burning down homes and businesses of people of colour, our new PM is inheriting a country which is ripping at the seams. Our Head of Policy tells the @bigissue.com why Andy Burnham needs to introduce national antiracism strategy ✍️

Why Britain needs an anti-racism strategy right now

An anti-racism strategy is needed in the UK to address rising racist violence and online hate speech, says Runnymede Trust's Stephen Walcott.

bigissue.com

HOPE not hate@hopenothate.org.uk · 2mo ago

It has been ten years since Jo Cox MP was murdered by a far-right extremist while serving her constituents in Batley and Spen. Today, we pause to remember Jo and her belief that “we have more in common than that which divides us”.

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Amnesty International UK@amnestyuk.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The scenes in Belfast last night were disgraceful. Families were targeted because of their skin colour or country of origin, leaving people frightened, homeless and fearing for their safety. The actions of one individual must never be used to stigmatise an entire community, nationality or faith.

An image of a road with a car on fire. Copy that reads: This is the third summer in a row that Northern Ireland has experienced organised racist violence - with each outbreak more serious than the last.
Free Movement@freemovement.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The High Court has found the Home Office acted unlawfully in scrapping accommodation protections for survivors of torture and trafficking — no consultation with specialists, no proper equality assessment, no investigation into consequences. A significant ruling covered in our latest piece by…

Home Office unlawfully removed asylum accommodation protections for torture and trafficking survivors - Free Movement

The High Court has ruled that the Home Office acted unlawfully when it removed long-standing accommodation protections for survivors of torture, trafficking

freemovement.org.uk

Lucy Potter@lucypotter.bsky.social · 2mo ago

📢 EVENT I’m super excited to organise this event for Refugee Week on ‘Courage, Community and Conversation’. If you’re in or around York, do pop in and hear about the amazing work going on for refugees and wider society. 📆 Monday, 15th June ⏰ Fair (10-2); Panel (3-4:30) 📍York

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Lucy Potter@lucypotter.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I’ve been wanting to do a Pint of Science for years after going to a local one! Ticked it off earlier this week and was so much fun. It’s not everyday people in the pub want to hear about your research 🤣 #pint26

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Pint of Science World@pintsworld.bsky.social · 3mo ago

#pint26 is in a week! This year we will be in +640 cities Check out this interactive map which lists them all 🗺️📍 bit.ly/pint26world And get all the infos here pintofscience.com Get ready to join the science party! 🦕 🫀👩‍🔬📚🧫🧪🌎🕷️🧬🪨🦴🤖🌴🌺🧠🔭👓⚖️🐳☄️🎼🌆

2026 Pint of Science - pintsworld #pint26 - Google My Maps

All the countries and cities taking part in Pint of Science 2026 (#pint26) 18-20 May 2026 See pintofscience.com for more information.

bit.ly

Adam Ramsay@adamramsay.bsky.social · 3mo ago

New research shows that more people abandoned Labour because they were too tough on immigration - and because of their support for Israel - than because they were too soft on immigration.

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Helen Bamber Foundation 🧡@helenbamber.org · 3mo ago

Today’s King’s Speech confirmed what we feared: another Immigration and Asylum Bill that will make life harder for people seeking protection in the UK. For over a decade, we've seen new legislation every year, which has failed to fix a broken system. Here’s why this approach makes things worse 🧵

Lucy Potter@lucypotter.bsky.social · 4mo ago

What's not in the news: Over a decade of research has consistently revealed significant flaws in Home Office decision-making for LGBTQI+/sexuality-based asylum claims, raising real concerns about the UK meeting its obligations under the Refugee Convention. Below are some examples:

Dan Sohege@danielsohege.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Disgusting reporting by BBC using a tiny number of cases to suggest widespread abuse of a system which routinely denies LGBTQIA+ individuals asylum and forces them back into environments of persecution. This article massively distorts the reality of the situation. 1/ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Legal advisers help migrants pose as gay to get asylum, undercover BBC investigation finds

The BBC exposes a shadow industry charging migrants thousands of pounds to help them cheat the asylum system.

bbc.co.uk

Humanists UK@humanists.uk · 4mo ago

Twelve countries globally have the death penalty for blasphemy and apostasy (leaving religion). In Pakistan, for example, being openly humanist is impossible without the threat of state arrest and persecution, or as we have too often seen, death by extreme mob violence. @lucypotter.bsky.social

Dr Lucy Potter, Research Fellow at the University of York, said: ‘I’ve met people who have sought asylum who have spent years trying to explain something that most people find simple: Why they no longer believe in the religion they were born into. They have been asked to pinpoint the exact moment they stopped believing, what philosophical arguments convinced them, and why they could not simply return home and stay silent about their views. ‘Many had no documents to prove their disbelief, no community leaders able to verify their identity, and often little language to describe what was, for them, a deeply personal transition. ‘Simply being accused of blasphemy can put your life at risk before any criminal trial, and even then, many individuals labelled as ‘blasphemers’ often struggle to find legal representation. In many countries, the primary threat is non-state actors, which can be mobs, extremist groups, or even family members, and in effect, many are forced to hide their beliefs or continue to conform to practices.’
Lucy Potter@lucypotter.bsky.social · 4mo ago

After 4 years of work, I’ve published the first-ever report on non-religious asylum claims. This is a groundbreaking step for an often overlooked area of asylum protection. Please do read and share! ⬇️

Humanists UK@humanists.uk · 4mo ago

Dr @lucypotter.bsky.social's report is both extremely important and extremely concerning. Non-religious asylum seekers may be escaping the death penalty for leaving religion or expressing humanist views. The UK Home Office should absolutely recognise that persecution. humanists.uk/2026/03/24/r...