FILED U.S. COURT OF AP P EALS E LEVEN T HC IRC U IT MAY 18 , 2006 THOMAS K. KAH

N CLERK [ DO NO T P UB L I S H] I N THE UN I TE D STATE S C OU RT OF APPE ALS F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C IR C U IT

________________________ N o. 05- 15749 N on -A rgum entC al endar

________________________ A ge nc y N o. A 78- 616- 027 N A D Z I H A S A N , P e titio n e r , v ersu s U .S . A T T O RN E Y G E N E R A L , R e s p o n d e n t.

________________________ P e t i t i on f orR e vi e w of

aD e c i s i on of

the B o a r d o f I m m ig r a tio n A p p e a ls

_________________________ ( M ay 18, 2006) B efo re T JO F L A T , B IR C H an d K R A V IT C H , C i rcu i tJu d g es. P E R C U R I A M: N ad zi H as an p etit io n s f o r r ev iew o f th e B o ar d o f I m m ig ra ti o n A p p ea ls’sOn November 25, 2002, President B ush signe d into law the Homeland Security Act of 1 2002, Pub. L . No. 107-296, Stat. 2125. The Act cre ated a new Department of H omeland Security, abolished the I

NS, and transf

erred I NS’s functions to the new department. 2 a f f i rm a nc e of

the I m m i gr a t i on J udge ’ s or de rof r e m ova l . T he I m m i gr a t i on J udge ga ve s pe c i f

i c a nd c oge ntr e a s ons t o e xpl a i n he ra dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty rul i ng, a nd s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e s u p p o rts th a t ru lin g . T h e r e f o r e , w e a f

f irm th e c r e d ib ility de t e rm i na t i on a nd de ny H a s a n’ s pe t i t i on. I . Ba c k g r o und H as an, a nat i ve and ci t i ze n o f M ac edon i a, w as pres enti n the U ni t ed S t at es w i tho utbei ng adm i tt ed or parol ed, and the IN S i ss ued a N ot i ce t o A pp ear 1
c h a r g in g H a s a n w ith r e m o v ab ilityu n d e rI N A § 2 1 2 ( a ) ( 6 ) ( A ) ( i) , 8 U .S .C . § 11 82 (a )( 6)(A )( i ). H a s a n appl i e d f

ora s y l um a nd w i thhol di ng of r e m ova l unde rthe I N A a nd f or r e lie f u n d e rth e U n ite d N a tio n s C o n v e n tio n A g a in s t T o rtu r e a n d O th e rC ru e l, I nhum a n, orD e gr a di ng T r e a tm e ntorP uni s hm e nt( “ C A T ” ) , 8 U . S . C . §§ 1158, 1231. H a s a n a tt a c he d al e ngthy s t a t e m e ntde t a i l i ng, i nt e ra l i a , the abus e he al l egedl y s uffe re d atthe hand s of the S ec re tP ol i ce i n M ac edon i a. H as an al l eged tha te thni c S e rbs dom i na t e d the gove rnm e nts a nc t i one d S e c r e tP ol i c e a nd pers ec ut ed hi m because of hi s nat i on al i ty, A l bani an and T urki sh, and h i s pol i t i ca l opi ni on. H a s a n r e c ount e d the f ol l ow i ng e ve nt s : the H a s a n f a m i l y w a s ve ry a c t i ve in p o li ti ca l aff

airs af fe ctin g eth n ic A lb an ian s liv in g in M ac ed o n ia. A fterH as an ’s3

s is te rm a rr ie d in to ap o litic a lly w e ll- c o n n e c te d e th n ic A lb a n ia n f a m ily th a t liv e d in the U ni t e d S t a t e s , the pol i c e f r e que nt l y de t a i ne d a nd i nt e rr oga t e d m e m be r s of H as an’ s f

am i l y. H as an al l eged thatthe po l i ce fe ar ed thathi s f ather had arr anged th e m a rr ia g e to in c r e a s e th e f a m ilie s ’ c o lle c tiv e p o litic a l c lo u t, e s p e c ia lly in in f lu e n c in g A m e r ic a n p o litic ia n s . I n 1989, the pol i c e de t a i ne d a nd t ortur e d H a s a n’ s f a the rf ortw o w e e ks , a nd he di ed fr om the i nj uri es three days af t erhi s r el ea se . H as an’ s m other then w as o r d e r e d o u t o f

h e rh o m e a n d ta k e n to S k o p je . I n 1 9 9 1 , H a s a n b e c a m e a c tiv e in pol i t i c s a nd w a s de t a i ne d, a rr e s t e d, a nd be a t e n f ol l ow i ng hi s pa rt i c i pa t i on i n a d e m o n s tr a tio n . H e w a s d e n ie d f o o d a n d w a te rd u r in g h is s e v e r a l d a y s ’ d e te n tio n . F ol l ow i ng a1992 r i ottha tbr oke outdur i ng apol i t i c a l de m ons tr a t i on i n S kopj e , the p o lic e d e ta in e d H a s a n a n d b e a t h im w ith tru n c h e o n s u n til h e w a s u n c o n s c io u s . W h e n h is m o th e ra tte m p te d to r e tu rn to h e rh o m e la te rth a t y e a r , th e p o lic e a g a in d e ta in e d , in te rr o g a te d , a n d b e a t H a s a n . I n 1 9 9 4 , H a s a n ’s m o th e rw a s s e n t to S tru g a , w h e r e s h e w a s u n d e rc o n s ta n t s u rv e illa n c e . L a te rth a t y e a ra n d a g a in in 1995, H a s a n w a s a rr e s t e d a nd de t a i ne d. B e f or e hi s r e l e a s e f

ol l ow i ng the 1995 det ent i on , po l i ce w arned h i m t o cea se hi s pol i t i ca l ac t i vi t i es . In 19 97 , H as an w as arre st ed, t i ed t o a tra ff

i c s i gn , and b ea t en un t i l he w as un consci ou s. H e w as l at er s um m one d t o the pol i c e s t a t i on t o a ns w e rque s t i ons a nd w a s or de r e d t o s i gn a d o c u m e n t. W h e n h e a s k e d to r e a d th e d o c u m e n t, th e p o lic e r e f u s e d a n d b e a t h im .4

A f te rs e v e r a l d a y s o f

th is r o u tin e , th e p o lic e a llo w e d h im to r e a d th e d o c u m e n t, w h ic h w a s ac o n f

e s s io n a d m ittin g th a t H a s a n in c ite d r a c ia l a n d e th n ic h a tr e d . H as an re fuse d t o si gn the confess i on , and the po l i ce beathi m agai n b ef ore r e le a s in g h im . D u r in g ad e m o n s tr a tio n in G o s tiv a rin 1 9 9 8 , p o lic e a rr e s te d H a s a n . A f t e rhi s r e l e a s e , he r e c e i ve d as um m ons t o appe a rf orque s t i oni ng. A tthe s t a t i on, h e w a s f o r c e d to w a lkth r o u g h ac o lu m n o f tw e n ty p o lic e m e n w h o h it h im w ith trunc he ons . B e c aus e he c oul d nots t a nd f ol l ow i ng the be a t i ng, he w a s dr a gge d t o a c e l l by hi s ha i r . H e w a s de t a i ne d f ort e n da y s , i nt e rr oga t e d abouthi s s i s t e r , a nd a ga i n w a rne d t o s t op hi s pol i t i c a l a c t i vi t i e s . L a t e ri n 1998, f ol l ow i ng as pe e c h by the c ha i rm a n of

the D e m oc r a t i c P a rty of A l ba ni a , H a s a n w a s a rr e s t e d a nd h an d cu ffed t o a traffi c si g n . P o l i ce b eath i m , b reak i n g h i s ri b s. H a s a n a l s o e xpl a i ne d tha thi s c ous i n, w ho H a s a n c l a i m s ha s r e c e i ve d a s y l um i n the U ni t ed S t at es , suff er ed si m i l arpers ec ut i on fr om the po l i ce un t i l he es caped in 1 9 9 9 . A f

te rh is c o u s in ’s f

lig h t, H a s a n w a s d e ta in e d a n d in te rr o g a te d ab o u t h is si st erand cou si n. R ather than t el l the po l i ce thathi s c ou si n fl ed M ac edon i a, H as an i nf orm e d the m tha thi s c ous i n w e ntt o the U ni t e d S t a t e s f orm e di c a l c a r e . T he po l i ce ac cuse d h i m of l yi ng and b ea thi m re peat edl y. H as an w as det ai ned three m ore t i m es i n 1 99 9 and w as pl ac ed un der s urvei l l ance . H as an then al l eged thatan in c id e n t th a t o c c u rr e d in 2 0 0 0 “w o u ld p r o v e to b e th e m o s t d e tr im e n ta l to m e in M a c e d o n ia .” A s h e w a s ap p r o a c h in g am e m o r ia l s e rv ic e f o rth r e e s la in e th n ic5

A l ba ni a ns , the pol i c e a rr e s t e d hi m , pl a c e d apl a s t i c ba g ove rhi s he a d, a nd tr a ns port e d hi m t o the pol i c e s t a t i on. F ors e ve r a l da y s , the pol i c e be a tH a s a n on hi s he a d a nd ba r e f

e e ta nd or de r e d hi m t o c onf e s s t o c ons pi r i ng a ga i ns tthe g o v e rn m e n t. T h e b e a tin g s w e r e s o s e v e r e th a t H a s a n c o u ld n e ith e rw a lkn o rs ta n d . W hen the po l i ce re l ea se d h i m , they s ai d h e w ou l d b e s um m on ed for f urther qu es t i on i ng short l y, and i f he r ef used t o con fe ss , he w ou l d “ di e i n the w orse [s i c] p o s s ib le p a in th a t c o u ld b e im a g in e d .” A f te rh is r e le a s e , h e w e n t in to h id in g w ith f r i e nds a nd de c i de d t o l e a ve M a c e doni af orthe U ni t e d S t a t e s . H e a l l e ge s tha the arri ved i n the U ni t ed S t at es abou ttw o w ee ks af t erhi s f i nal re l ea se and d ay s bef ore h e w a s to r e tu rn to th e p o lic e s ta tio n f o rf u rth e rq u e s tio n in g . H a s a n a lle g e s th a t, d e s p ite h is m a n y d e te n tio n s , h e w a s n e v e rc h a r g e d w ith ac r im e . A t th e h e a r in g b e f

o r e th e I m m ig r a tio n J u d g e ( “I J ” ) , H a s a n c o n c e d e d h is r e m o v ab i l i ty . He th e n t e s t i f i e d : Ha s a n wa s b o rn i n Ma c e d o n i ai n 1 9 6 5 . He m arri ed af

t erhe fi l ed hi s app l i ca t i on for a sy l um , and h i s w i fe , an ethn i c A l bani an f r o m Al b a n i a , o b t a i n e d a s y l u m i n th e Un i t e d S t a t e s b e f o r e th e i rm a rr i a g e . He w a l ke d i nt o the U ni t e d S t a t e s , w i thoutavi s a , a tB r ow ns vi l l e , T e xa s on J ul y 31, 20 00 af t ertra vel l i ng fr om A l bani a t o M exi co vi a S pai n. In M ac edon i a, H as an had b e e n ame mb e ro f

th e A l b a n i a n D e mo c r a t i c Pa rty s i n c e 1 9 8 5 . H a s a n ’ s p r o b l e ms began i n 1 99 1, w hen h e w as arre st ed du ri ng a pol i t i ca l dem on stra t i on . H as an w as i m pri soned for three days , beat en, ki cked, and p un i shed and w as never char ged6

w i th a cr i m e. H as an l at erst at ed that , despi t e hi s m any det ent i on s, he w as never char ged w i th a cr i m e i n p artbecause the po l i ce di d n otw antt o b ri ng hi m before a j udge , w ho w oul d s e e H a s a n’ s s e ve r e i nj ur i e s . A f t e rhe w a s r e l e a s e d, he di d not se ek m edi ca l att ent i on because he f eare d further pers ec ut i on i f he di d. H e had s im ila rp r o b le m s in 1 9 9 2 , 1 9 9 4 , 1 9 9 5 , 1 9 9 8 , 1 9 9 9 , a n d 2 0 0 0 . A l tho ug h H as an ori gi nal l y t es t i fi ed thatthe prob l em s began i n 1 99 1, he then st at ed thatthe troub l e began w hen h i s f ather di ed i n 1 98 9. S ho rt l y there af t er , H a s a n a nd hi s m othe rthe n w e r e f or c i bl y r e m ove d f

r om the i rhom e be c aus e of the di sc ri m i nat i on agai nstethn i c A l bani ans. H as an’ s m other w as t aken t o S truga; H a s a n m ove d s e ve r a l t i m e s , s om e t i m e s s t a y i ng w i th hi s unc l e i n D e ba r . I n 1992, H a s a n tr ie d to r e tu rn to h is h o m e b u t w a s e je c te d a g a in . I n 1 9 9 4 , H a s a n w e n t to O h lid to p a rtic ip a te in p o litic a l a c tiv itie s . H e w a s a rr e s te d a n d f o r c e d to w a lk th r o u g h tw o c o lu m n s o f p o lic e o f

f ic e r s a s th e o f

f ic e r s s tru c kh im o n th e h e a d w ith ba t ons . D e s pi t e hi s s e ve r e i nj ur i e s , he di d nots e e k m e di c a l tr e a tm e ntbe c aus e he l a c ke d the ne c e s s a ry m one y . I n 1995, H a s a n a tt e nde d ade m ons tr a t i on i n T e t ovo, du ri ng w hi ch he w as arre st ed, det ai ned, and b ea t en. In 19 97 , H as an w as arre st ed i n ei ther S copi a or G ost i var. H as an al so re po rt ed thatthe po l i ce ca l l ed hi m i n for qu es t i on i ng tw i ce ea ch i n 1 99 7 and 19 98 . H as an coul d n otre m em ber how m any t i m es he had b ee n arre st ed bu tst at ed thati tcoul d h ave been tw el ve or thi rt ee n, or as m any a s f i ft ee n7

t i m es . H as an’ s l as tcont ac tw i th the po l i ce w as on M ar ch 25 , 20 00 , w hen h e w as a rr e s t e d, be a t e n, t ol d t o s t op hi s pol i t i c a l a c t i vi t i e s , a nd or de r e d t o r e turn f or que s t i oni ng on J ul y 30, 2000. H a s a n the n s a i d tha the r e c e i ve d the s um m ons on J une 10, 2000 a nd t e s t i f i e d tha tthe pol i c e que s t i one d hi m abouthi s c ous i n on J une 5, 20 00 , atw hi ch po i nthe t ol d the po l i ce thathi s c ou si n w entt o the U ni t ed S t at es f o rm e d ic a l tr e a tm e n t. O n c r os s - e xa m i na t i on, H a s a n s t a t e d tha ton J ul y 25, 2000, he obt a i ne d the p a s s p o rt th a t h e s u b m itte d to th e c o u rt w ith th e h e lp o f f r ie n d s w h o h a d c o n ta c ts in th e p o lic e . T h e f

o llo w in g d a y h e ille g a lly e n te r e d A lb a n ia , w h e r e h e s ta y e d o n ly lo n g e n o u g h to o b ta in af r au d u le n t p a s s p o rt a n d v is ath a t h e u s e d to tr a v e l to M ex i co v i a S p ai n . H e t est i fi ed th ath e n ev er saw th e frau d u l en tp assp o rtan d v i sa because the peop l e w ho hel ped h i m re ac h M exi co keptthem . O nce he re ac hed M exi co, he w al ked across the U ni t ed S t at es bo rderw i tho uti nspect i on at B r o w n s v ille , T e x a s . T h e I J n o te d th a t H a s a n ’s p a s s p o rt d id n o t h a v e as ig n a tu r e . A d d itio n a lly , H a s a n c o u ld n o t p r o d u c e in f o rm a tio n v e r if

y in g h is m e m b e r s h ip in a n y o f th e g r o u p s to w h ic h h e a lle g e d ly b e lo n g e d ; n o rd id h e h a v e ab irth c e rtif ic a te . H a s a n f

u rth e ra d m itte d th a t h e h a d b e e n a rr e s te d f o rD U I in F lo r id ain 20 02 , bu the coul d n otexpl ai n w hy the fi ng erpri nt s t aken w hen h e w as arre st ed m a tc h e d ap e r s o n b y th e n a m e o f S h te tim L lo m i w ith ad if f e r e n t b irth d a te . A lth o u g h H as an ’s sister , w h o w as p u rp o rted ly th e in d iv idu al w h o atten d ed H as an ’s8

h ea rin g b ef

o re th e I J, an d H as an ’s co u sin , w h o li v ed a f ew h o u rs fr o m h ea rin g ’s l oc a t i on i n M i a m i a nd t o w hom H a s a n c l a i m e d he w a s ve ry c l os e , l i ve d i n the U n ite d S ta te s , H a s a n f

a ile d to c a ll e ith e ra s ac o rr o b o r a tin g w itn e s s . A c c o r d in g to H a s a n, he di d notr e a l i z e tha the ne e de d t o c a l l w i tne s s e s . H a s a n e xpl a i ne d the d is c r e p a n c ie s b e tw e e n h is te s tim o n y a n d ap p lic a tio n a s s te m m in g f r o m f e a r . A s c orr obor a t i ng e vi de nc e , H a s a n s ubm i tt e d the S t a t e D e pa rtm e ntR e portof C ountry C ondi t i ons i n M a c e doni af or2001 a nd 2002 a nd s e ve r a l a rt i c l e s f r om A m nesty I nt ernat i on al . T he re po rt s c on fi rm ed thatm em bers of the A l bani an D e m o c r a tic P a rty s u f

f e r e d ab u s e b y p o lic e o f

f ic e r s a n d d e ta ile d in c id e n ts s im ila rto th o s e a lle g e d b y H a s a n . T he IJdeni ed re l i ef

and o rder ed H as an re m ov ed. C i t i ng the i ncon si st enci es betw ee n the t es t i m on y and the as yl um appl i ca t i on , the IJconcl ud ed thatH as an la c k e d c r e d ib ility . T h e I J b a s e d h e rf in d in g o n th e v a g u e n e s s a n d la c ko f d e ta ils r e g a r d in g th e d e te n tio n s , th e in c o n s is te n t d a te s , th e o m is s io n s a n d d if f e r e n c e s in th e a lle g a tio n s , th e la c ko f o th e rc o rr o b o r a tin g e v id e n c e , a n d H a s a n ’s f a ilu r e to pres entevi dence thathe w as a m em ber of any of the organi za t i on s. T he IJfurther f ound tha tH a s a n f

a i l e d t o e s t abl i s h hi s i de nt i ty be c aus e the pa s s portw a s not ob t ai ned from l egal autho ri t i es and H as an’ s f i ng erpri nt s f

rom a D U I arr es tm at ched a per son w i th a di ff

er entnam e and dat e of bi rth. A cc ordi ng l y, the IJfoun d that H a s a n ha d notm e thi s bur de n of pr ovi ng e l i gi bi l i ty f

ora s y l um , w i thhol di ng ofCongress re cently passed the REAL

ID Act, which altere d this court’s review of 2 immigration appeals. In Huang , this court noted that pursuant to the REAL ID Act, all petitions for review a

re g overne d by

the per manent rule s, and that, under the Act a s codified at I

NA § 208(b)( 1), 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1) , the Secretar y of Homela

nd Security, in addition to the Attorney General, ha s discretion to grant a sylum. Huangv. U.S. Attorney Gen., 429 F .3d 1002, 1008 n.3 (11th Cir. 2005). 9 r e m o v a l, o rr e lie f

u n d e rC A T . T h e B o ar d o f I m m ig ra ti o n s A p p ea ls (“B IA ”) su m m ar il y a ff irm ed th e I J’s d e c is io n . II . S tan d ard of R evi ew W h en , as h er e, th e B IA ad o p ts th e I J’s d ec isio n , th is co u rt re v iew s th e I J’s de c i s i on a s a dopt e d by the B I A . C ha c on- B ot e r o v. U . S . A tt orne y G e n. , 427 F . 3d 95 4, 95 6 (11 th C i r. 20 05 ). T o the ext entthatthe IJ ’ s dec i si on w as base d o n a l egal det erm i nat i on , w e r evi ew the deci si on de no vo . D -M uh um ed v. U . S . A tt orney G en. , 38 8 F . 3d 81 4, 81 7 (11 th C i r. 20 04 ). W e r evi ew the IJ ’ s f ac tual d et erm i n at i o n s u n d er th e su b st an t i al ev i d en ce t est , an d w e “ m u staffi rm th e [IJ’ s] de c i s i on i f

i ti s s upport e d by r e a s onabl e , s ubs t a nt i a l , a nd pr oba t i ve e vi de nc e on the r e c or d c ons i de r e d a s aw hol e . ” A l N a jj a rv. A s hc r of

t , 257 F . 3d 1262, 1283- 84 2 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) ( q u o ta tio n a n d in te rn a l m a rk s o m itte d ) . T h e I J ’s c r e d ib ility det erm i nat i on i s afi nd i ng of fa ctthatw e r evi ew un der the subst ant i al evi dence te s t, a n d w e s h o u ld n o t “s u b s titu te o u rju d g m e n t f o rth a t o f th e [ I J ] w ith r e s p e c t to c r e di bi l i ty f

i ndi ngs . ” D - M uhum e d, 388 F . 3d a t818. A f i ndi ng of f a c tw i l l “ be10

re vers ed by thi s c ou rton l y w hen the re cord com pel s are vers al ; the m er e f ac tthat the r e c or d m a y s upportac ontr a ry c onc l us i on i s note nough t o j us t i f y ar e ve r s a l of the adm i ni stra t i ve fi nd i ng s. ” A defe m i v. A shcr oft , 38 6 F . 3d 10 22 , 10 27 (11th C i r. 2 0 0 4 ) ( e n b a n c ) . I I I . D i s c u s s i on T he A tt orne y G e ne r a l a nd S e c r e t ary of H om e l a nd S e c ur i ty ha ve di s c r e t i on t o g r a n ta s y l u m i f

a n a l i e n m e e t s th e I NA ’ s d e f i n i t i o n o f “ r e f u g e e . ” I NA § 2 0 8 ( b ) ( 1 ) , 8 U .S .C . § 1 1 5 8 ( b ) ( 1 ) . T h e I N A d e f in e s “r e f u g e e ” : [A ] ny pers on w ho i s out si de any c ou ntryof such p e r s o n ’s n a tio n a lity . . . a n d w h o is u n ab le o ru n w illin g to r e turn t o, a nd i s unabl e orunw i l l i ng t o a va i l hi m s e l f or he r s e l f of the pr ot e c t i on of

, tha tc ountry be c aus e of pe r s e c ut i on oraw e l l - f

ounde d f e arof pe r s e c ut i on on a c c o u n t o f

. . . n a tio n a lity . . . o rp o litic a l o p in io n . . . . 8 U . S . C . § 1101( a ) ( 42) ( A ) & ( B ) . T he a s y l um appl i c a ntbe a r s the bur de n of prov i ng re fugee s t atus. A l N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at12 84 . T o m ee tthi s burden, the al i en m us t , w i th s pe c i f

i c a nd c r e di bl e e vi de nc e , e s t abl i s h ( 1) pa s tpe r s e c ut i on on a c c ount of a s t atut ori l y l i st ed fa ct or, or (2) a“ w el l -f ou nd ed fe ar ” thatthe st atut ori l y l i st ed f a c to rw ill c au s e f

u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n . A l N a jja r , 2 5 7 F .3 d a t 1 2 8 7 ; 8 C .F .R . § 20 8. 13 (a ), (b). If

the al i en es t abl i shes pastpers ec ut i on , he i s pre sum ed t o h ave a“However, thewea ker theapplicant’ s testimony , the greater the ne ed for corroborative 3 evidenc e.” I

n re Y -B , 21 I& NDec . 1136, 1139 (B IA 1998). 11 w e l l - f ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on unl e s s the gove rnm e ntc a n r e butthe pres um pt i on . D -M uh um ed, 38 8 F . 3d at81 8 (ci t i ng 8 C . F . R . § 2 08 . 12 (b)( 1)(i ), ( ii) ) . I f h e c a n n o t s h o w p a s t p e r s e c u tio n , th e a lie n m u s t d e m o n s tr a te aw e llf o u n d e d f e a ro f f u tu r e p e r s e c u tio n th a t is b o th s u b je c tiv e ly g e n u in e a n d o b je c tiv e ly re as on abl e. A l N ajj ar , 25 7 F . 3d at12 89 . T he subj ec t i ve com po nentcan b e proved “b y th e ap p lic a n t’s c r e d ib le te s tim o n y th a t h e o rs h e g e n u in e ly f e a r s p e r s e c u tio n ,” an d th e o b

j ect i v e co m p o n en t“ can b e fu l fi l l ed ei th er b y est ab l i sh i n g p ast pe r s e c ut i on ortha the ors he ha s agood r e a s on t o f e a rf utur e pe r s e c ut i on. ” Y a ng v. U . S . A tt orney G en. , 41 8 F . 3d 11 98 , 12 02 (11th C i r. 20 05 ). I f a n a l i e n’ s t e s t i m ony i s c r e di bl e , i tm a y be s uf f i c i e nt , w i thout c orr obor a t i on, t o s a t i s f

y hi s bur de n of

pr oof i n e s t abl i s hi ng hi s e l i gi bi l i ty f or a s y lu m . F o r g u e v . U .S . A tto rn e y G e n ., 4 0 1 F .3 d 1 2 8 2 , 1 2 8 7 ( 1 1 th C ir . 2 0 0 5 ) ; 8

3 C . F . R . § 208. 13( a ) , § 208. 16( b) . I n c ontr a s t , a n I J ’ s de ni a l of a n a s y l um appl i c a t i on c a n be s upport e d s ol e l y by a n a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty de t e rm i na t i on, e s pe c i a l l y i f

the a l i e n doe s notpr oduc e c orr obor a t i ng e vi de nc e . F or gue , 401 F . 3d at12 87 . If

, ho w ever , the appl i cantprod uces other e vi dence of pers ec ut i on , the IJ m u s t c o n s id e rth a t e v id e n c e a n d s h o u ld n o t r e ly o n a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility de t e rm i na t i on i n thos e c a s e s . I d.For example, the IJstated that Ha san g ave inc onsistent accounts of his father’s de ath, 4 first stating that his father die d threedays after beingrele ased f

rom custody

from injuries sustained duringthe detention, and then stating that his father was brutally executed. A review of the re cord shows that Hasan c onsidered theterm “br utally executed” a s sy

nony mous with the first ac count. The IJalso stated that Ha san could not namethe leader of the Albanian Democratic Party, thereby castingdoubt on his alleg ed involvement in the par ty . Hasa n’s testimony is confusingon this point , but we are unsurewhether it shows that Hasan c ould not name the pa

rty ’s leader. Instead, webelieve that the IJ ’s deter mination may

have stemmed from Ha san’ s unc le ar attempt

to distinguis h b e tw e en th enatio nal pa rt y, in which h ewa s n ot a member, and

theloc al pa

rt y, in which h ec laime d tobea member. At

any rate , w edis re g ard

thi s potentially

discreditinginformation in our analysis. 12 “ I ndi c a t i ons of

r e l i abl e t e s t i m ony i nc l ude c ons i s t e nc y on di r e c te xa m i na t i on, consi st encyw i th the w ri tt en appl i ca t i on , and the abse nce of emb el l i shm ent s. ” I n re B - , 2 1 I & N D e c . 6 6 , 7 0 ( B I A 1 9 9 5 ) . A n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ilityf in d in g m u s t g o to th e h earto f th e cl ai m , an d n o tb e b ased o n m i n o r d i screp an ci es, i n co n si st en ci es, a nd om i s s i ons . L ui v. U . S . A tt orne y G e n. , 156 F . A pp’ x 270, 273 ( 11th C i r . 2005) (unp ub l i shed) ( ci t i ng G ao v. A shcr oft , 29 9 F . 3d 26 6, 27 2 (3d C i r. 20 02 )) ; A ki nm ade v. IN S , 19 6 F . 3d 95 1, 95 4 (9th C i r. 19 99 )) . A si ng l e i ncon si st encym ay b e s u f f ic ie n t to s u p p o rt a n a d v e r s e c r e d ib ilityf in d in g if th e in c o n s is te n c y r e la te s to the a l i e n’ s ba s i s f

orhi s f e a ra nd goe s t o the he a rtof hi s a s y l um c l a i m . I d. ( c i t i ng C h e b c h o u b v . I N S , 2 5 7 F .3 d 1 0 3 8 , 1 0 4 3 ( 9 th C ir . 2 0 0 1 ) ) . H as an’ s t es t i m on y and as yl um appl i ca t i on un ders t andabl y c on fuse d the IJ a nd c aus e d he rt o i m pr ope r l y c l a s s i f y c e rt a i n i nf

orm a t i on a s i nc ons i s t e ntor i nc r e di bl e . N e ve rthe l e s s , de s pi t e the I J ’ s c onf us i on on af

e w pi e c e s of 4 in f o rm a tio n , s u b s ta n tia l e v id e n c e s u p p o rts th e I J ’s a d v e r s e c r e d ib ility13

det erm i nat i on . H as an’ s t es t i m on y and appl i ca t i on w er e vague abou thi s pol i t i ca l i nvol ve m e nt , pr ovi de d i nc ons i s t e ntda t e s a nd l oc a t i ons of a rr e s t s , a nd ga ve in c o n s is te n t a c c o u n ts o f th e ab u s e h e a lle g e d ly s u f f e r e d . In hi s bri ef

, H as an cont ends thatthe i ncon si st enci es re gardi ng dat es ar e i ns uf f i c i e ntt o s upportthe I J ’ s a dve r s e c r e di bi l i ty f i ndi ng be c aus e : ( 1) the i nc ons i s t e nc i e s a r e unde r s t a ndabl e a s s i gni f i c a ntt i m e ha s pa s s e d s i nc e the in c id e n ts ; a n d ( 2 ) th e e x a c t d a te s d o n o t g o to th e h e a rt o f h is a s y lu m c la im . A c c or di ng t o H a s a n, “ the bott om l i ne i s tha tP e t i t i one rw a s r e pe a t e dl y be a t e n by th e p o lic e .” W he n a s ke d tw i c e dur i ng hi s di r e c te xa m i na t i on abouthi s l a s ti nt e r a c t i on w i th M a c e doni a n pol i c e , H a s a n f a i l e d t o not e the J ul y 11- 15, 2000 i nc i de nttha the referred t o i n h i s ap p l i cat i o n as th e i n ci d en tth at“ w o u l d p ro v e t o b e th e m o st de tr i m e nt a l t o m e i n M a c e doni a . ” I ns t e a d, he f i r s tr e c ount e d aM a r c h 25, 2000 in c id e n t a n d th e n n o te d aJ u n e 5 , 2 0 0 0 in c id e n t in w h ic h th e p o lic e q u e s tio n e d h im abou thi s c ou si n. In hi s a sy l um appl i ca t i on , he st at ed thatthe po l i ce oft en que s t i one d hi m abouthi s c ous i n buts pe c i f i c a l l y not e d tha tthi s pa rt i c ul a ri nc i de nt o f q u e s tio n in g ab o u t h is c o u s in o c c u rr e d o n J u n e 5 , 1 9 9 9 . H a s a n’ s a s s e rt i ons f

a i l be c aus e , i n thi s i ns t a nc e , the or de r– a nd, by c o n n e c tio n , th e d a te s –o f th e e v e n ts w e r e in c o n s is te n t a n d g o to th e h e a rt o f h is cl ai m . If the June 5 i nci dentoccurre d i n 1 99 9, i tw as no tthe l as ti nt er ac t i on he hadHasa n testified that he did not know that he ne eded to present c orroboratingwitnesses. 5 In f ac t, H a san isc or

re c t th at hedo e s n ot need to present c orroboratingwitnesses, but the pa perw or k explainingthehe aringe xplic itly state s th at th epetition er m ay c all witn e sse s o n his 14 w i th M a c e doni a n pol i c e a s he t e s t i f i e d be c aus e both hi s t e s t i m ony a nd appl i c a t i on not e aM a r c h 25, 2000 i nc i de nt . I f the i nc i de ntoc c urr e d i n 2000 a nd w a s , a s he te s tif ie d , th e la s t in te r a c tio n h e h a d w ith M a c e d o n ia n p o lic e , H a s a n ’s c r e d ib ilityis i n doubtr e ga r di ng the J ul y 11- 15, 2000 i nc i de nttha the not e d i n hi s appl i c a t i on

“ w ou l d p rove t o b e the m ostdetri m ent al t o m e i n M ac edon i a. ” G i ven the i nj uri es H a s a n a lle g e d ly s u s ta in e d d u r in g a n d th e la n g u a g e h e u s e d in h is ap p lic a tio n to desc ri be Jul y 11-15 , 20 00 i nci dent , w e f i nd i tdi ff

i cul tt o u nd er st and h ow H as an c o u ld h a v e f

a ile d to r e m e m b e rth e in c id e n t a s h is f in a l in te r a c tio n w ith M a c e d o n ia n p o lic e . C on si deri ng the w ea kn es s of H as an’ s t es t i m on y i n cert ai n res pect s, he w as i n g re at erneed of corroborat i ng evi dence t o sup po rthi s c l ai m s of per se cut i on . In r e Y - B , 21 I & N D e c . a t1139. N e ve rthe l e s s , H a s a n f a i l e d t o pr ovi de c orr obor a t i ng e vi de nc e s pe c i f

i c t o hi m . H a s a n di d notpr ovi de pr oof of hi s m e m be r s hi p i n a ny o r g a n iz a tio n to w h ic h h e a lle g e d ly b e lo n g e d . F u rth e rm o r e , H a s a n f a ile d to c a ll c o rr o b o r a tin g w itn e s s e s , in c lu d in g h is s is te r , w h o p u rp o rte d ly w a s th e w o m a n in the courtroom atH as an’ s heari ng , and h i s c ou si n, w ho l i ved w i thi n a fe w ho urs f r o m th e lo c a tio n o f

th e h e a r in g a n d w h o “to o kav e ry p e r s o n a l in te r e s t in [ H a s a n’ s ] w e l f

a r e , ” t o s upporthi s c l a i m s of pe r s e c ut i on. F i na l l y , a l though the

5behalf

. Fur thermore , the asylum applicant bea rs the burden to establish his eligibility . Al Najjar , 257 F.3d at 1284 Although H asan challeng es the IJ ’s denial of withholding of removal and relief under 6 CA T, the sec laimsareno t prop erly be fo rethi s c ou

rt . In his a

pp e al be fo retheB IA, Ha sa n did not contest the IJ ’s dec ision on those grounds. There fore , he has not exhausted the issues, a nd we do not consider them. F erna ndez-Bernal v. U.S. Attorney Gen., 257 F .3d 1304, 1317 n.13 (11th Cir. 2001). 15 c o u n try r e p o rts a n d A m n e s ty I n te rn a tio n a l a rtic le s d is c u s s ab u s e o f p o litic a lly act i v e m em b ers o f th e A l b an i an D em o crat i c P arty an d eth n i c A l b an i an s g en eral l y, the re po rt s and art i cl es do no ti ncl ud e s peci fi cs abou tany of the event s i n w hi ch H a s a n a l l e ge d he pa rt i c i pa t e d. T he r e f or e , the y do notpr ovi de s uf f i c i e nt c orr obor a t i ng e vi de nc e t o e s t abl i s h pa s tpe r s e c ut i on oraw e l l - f ounde d f e a rof f utur e pe r s e c ut i on. B e c aus e s ubs t a nt i a l e vi de nc e s upport s the s pe c i f i c a nd c oge nt r e a s o n s th e I J g a v e f

o rh e ra d v e r s e c r e d ib ilityd e te rm in a tio n , H a s a n ’s p e titio n is DE NI E D. 6