Sharaf is an Iranian national. He is Baha'i, a minority religion in a country where Islam is dominant. Sharaf could not apply for any government jobs nor obtain a business license, all because of his religion. Private employers would not hire him, and as a result, he remained unemployed for long stretches of time. Sharaf's children could not attend the local public school because of their religion and his non-Baha'i neighbors often harassed his family. Because of the difficulty finding employment, the family was very poor and found it almost impossible to earn a living.

Is Sharaf merely a victim of discrimination and harassment or would his situation rise to the level of persecution?

case discussion 5.2

Hamid was a prominent and outspoken university professor in Afghanistan in 1986. He publicly denounced the occupation of his country by and his government's alliance with the former Soviet Union. The government targeted Hamid and sought to silence him. He was arrested as a traitor but later released from detention after 18 months in prison, where he was beaten constantly. Hamid then fled to the United States and claimed asylum. While Hamid's case was pending, the Soviets withdrew, and the government that harmed him was overthrown. However, Hamid now claims he cannot return home because control of many regions in his country is in the hands of the Taliban, a group that opposes all things American and the moderate form of Islam Hamid practices. He claims if he returns, the Taliban will persecute him for having been to the "land of the infidel" and that they will force him to adhere to fundamentalist practices.

Has Hamid suffered past persecution? Can he rebut an argument that circumstances in Afghanistan have changed substantially so that it is now safe for him to return? What additional information would you like to know to inform your decision?