Homeschoolers granted "political asylum" in the United States

Political asylum, or the "right of asylum" has roots that extend way back in recorded history.

In England, King Ethelbert made the first laws regulating sanctuary in about 600 A.D... Sometimes the criminal had to get to the church itself to be protected, and might have to ring a certain bell there, or hold a certain ring or door-knocker, or sit on a certain chair ("frith-stool"), and some of these items survive at various churches. In other places, there was an area around the church or abbey, sometimes extending as much as a mile and a half, and there would be stone "sanctuary crosses" marking the boundary of the area; some of those still exist as well. Thus it could become a race between the felon and medieval law officers to the nearest sanctuary boundary, and could make the serving of justice upon the fleet of foot a difficult proposition.

Modern asylum laws have extended beyond religious persecution to include categories of "race, nationality, religion, political opinions and membership and/or participation in any particular social group or social activities."

A judge in Tennessee has now grated asylum to a German couple who fear persecution in their home country because they want to home school their children:

In 2006 the Romeikes pulled their children out of a state school in Bissingen, Germany, in protest of what they deemed an anti-Christian curriculum.

They said textbooks presented ideas and language that conflicted with their Christian beliefs, including slang terms for sex acts and images of vampires and witches, while the school offered what they described as ethics lessons from Islam, Buddhism and other religions.

German authorities fined the family thousand of Euros for keeping their kids out of school.  "The German consul general for the southeastern US said in a statement that mandatory school attendance ensures a high education standard for all children, adding that parents have many educational options.'

Via J-Walk.