What does the principle of non-refoulement require in refugee protection?

• A. Returning refugees to a country where they face danger.
• B. Detaining asylum seekers indefinitely.
• C. Not returning refugees to a country where they face danger.
• D. Granting automatic asylum without due process.

Answer: (C)

Non-refoulement means you must not send a refugee or asylum seeker back to a country where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other serious harm. This principle is a core protection in international refugee law and binds states to carefully assess each person's claim. If a return would put them in danger, the state must provide protection instead of expulsion or extradition. It’s not about granting asylum automatically or about indefinite detention; rather, it’s about ensuring people aren’t returned to harm after their claim is evaluated. That’s why the correct answer states not returning refugees to a country where they face danger.