Author(s): Hasan Ali YILMAZ*
This study examines the approaches and practices of states and religions on immigration. States construct their immigration and border policies and practices within the framework of security. Operating from within this securitising framework, immigrants are perceived as a potential threat to the security and stability of the nation state. Accordingly, the public perceive immigrants as a threat to national security. While these practices and policies "secure" the immigrant issue for the host community, they make immigration dangerous for immigrants. In this case, it becomes a requirement to the question the security practices and policies and to examine the approach of religion to the immigration issue. In the context of migration, due to secular prejudices, religions have recently attracted migrant researchers' attention. Religions have long been known to interact with the dynamics of migration and play key roles for immigrants. Religions that travel with/to migrants help them in constructing their identity, a sense of belonging, a space and boundaries as well as in making their journeys and grounding in a new context. These factors indicate that the interaction between religion and immigration needs to be reinterpreted in the context of securitization of migration. The research explores how/ the manner in which religions approach the issue of migration by prioritizing social solidarity and hospitality.
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