What can contribute to the decision of whether to grant asylum based on past persecution?

The decision to grant asylum based on past persecution is significantly influenced by whether the applicant has experienced persecution or if their family members have faced persecution due to a protected ground such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

When an applicant demonstrates that family members were persecuted, it indicates a pattern of targeted discrimination or violence based on characteristics that are often fundamental to the applicant's identity. This familial connection can strengthen the asylum claim, as it may illustrate a broader risk of persecution that could extend to the applicant themselves, especially in situations where persecution is pervasive within a community or political context.

In contrast, while religious beliefs, the length of time spent in exile, and political stability of the home country may be relevant factors in other contexts, they do not directly correlate with established grounds for asylum based on past persecution in the same way that family persecution does. Family persecution provides clear evidence of a climate of fear and risk that aligns with the core principles of asylum law.