Political repression

Political persecution defined as persecution because of political opinion is one of the reasons that are recognized as a prerequisite for recognition as a refugee within the meaning of the Geneva Conventions. Similarly, it applies to Amnesty International as a criterion for the support of prisoners. Victims of political persecution are often dissidents.

This is political persecution in this sense is difficult to define, since the difference between the pursuit of the expression of political conviction and legitimate law enforcement to enforce the laws in force in any State is often difficult to draw. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees defines a Political persecution as an exclusion with respect to the religious views, political views, or other constant characteristics. This also would be tracking the grounds of homosexuality a reason for asylum, but this reason is rarely granted.

Persecution for reasons of membership of people to a "race" or because of their origin, "ethnic cleansing" and genocide are extreme manifestations of political persecution.

Political persecution can happen in individual cases, and out of social groups; the state's failure in these cases is not ( sufficiently ) that he is using its monopoly to protect such persecution. Political persecution can also be part of a comprehensive, supported by the respective state system of persecution of dissenters. If this is the case, by coercion, threatened or applied force, from the state or paramilitary unofficial organizations, they are called political oppression. More subtle forms of political persecution ( reprisals ) can black lists, or be ideologically motivated hysteria and persecution, such as McCarthyism in the United States.