Court Opinion

ID: 9632934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 11:28:39.410838+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:08:24.699712
License: Public Domain

GOULD, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
I join Judge Poliak’s opinion, and write separately to emphasize my personal view on one key issue. As Judge Poliak’s opinion points out, “the principal ground for the IJ’s adverse credibility finding, not defended by the government, was based on the IJ’s view, unsupported by any evidence, that a rape victim in petitioner’s position would have gone to a doctor.” Judge Poliak’s opinion correctly rejects the IJ’s position as having been grounded on speculation and conjecture. I wish to add that, regrettably, in many parts of the world, a young woman’s report of a rape is likely to bring shame and discredit upon her and her family, as much as it is likely to result in any prosecution of the wrongdoer. Because the victim may be blamed for a rape or in any event subjected to some level of disgrace for it, it is understandable that a young woman like Petitioner Zhu might prefer to maintain silence about a rape. This is all the more so where the rapist is a powerful person in the community. And where recourse to medical treatment is likely to cast a spotlight on the rape with all attendant consequences, it is no wonder that a young woman in such circumstances might not only remain mum but also pass up the possibility of a doctor’s help. Such circumstances are not grounds for precluding asylum for a person otherwise entitled to it.