The extent to which refugees can engage in political activity in the country of asylum is a matter of some controversy. In certain circumstances the presence of refugees may be perceived as a threat to domestic harmony, generating negative attitudes towards their involvement in matters of a political nature. From a legal point of view two distinct perspectives arise. Firstly, the impact of human rights and refugee law, granting particular rights to refugees, whilst taking into account the legitimate security interests of the host community. Secondly, the responsibility of States under international law for injurious activities carried out by aliens, including refugees, within their territory. It transpires that the political rights of refugees rests on a delicate balance between protecting the essential human dignity of such persons and the need for States to respect each other’s sovereignty and to protect their own community in general. Moreover, the wide spectrum of activities that may fall under the umbrella of “political” serves to add to the complexity of the legal framework.