context: The harm Mr. Ilioi experienced as a child -- including being taunted, ridiculed, and beaten by teachers at grade school for being Pentecostal, and having rocks thrown at him by schoolmates -- does not rise to the level of persecution. Persecution is the "infliction of suffering or harm ... in a way regarded as offensive and requires more than just restrictions or threats to life and liberty." Taunts and ridicule do not constitute persecution.
citation_a.signal: see
citation_a.identifier: 573 F.3d 968, 977
citation_a.parenthetical: "Verbal taunts, while offensive, fall within the bounds of harassment and discrimination, not persecution."
citation_a.sentence: See Witjaksono v. Holder, 573 F.3d 968, 977 (10th Cir.2009) (“Verbal taunts, while offensive, fall within the bounds of harassment and discrimination, not persecution.”); see also Sidabutar, 503 F.3d at 1124 (finding that multiple beatings by Muslim classmates, two involving serious injury, and repeated confrontations by people demanding money, all on account of Indonesian alien’s Christian religion did not amount to persecution).
citation_b.signal: see also
citation_b.identifier: 503 F.3d 1124, 1124
citation_b.parenthetical: finding that multiple beatings by Muslim classmates, two involving serious injury, and repeated confrontations by people demanding money, all on account of Indonesian alien's Christian religion did not amount to persecution
citation_b.sentence: See Witjaksono v. Holder, 573 F.3d 968, 977 (10th Cir.2009) (“Verbal taunts, while offensive, fall within the bounds of harassment and discrimination, not persecution.”); see also Sidabutar, 503 F.3d at 1124 (finding that multiple beatings by Muslim classmates, two involving serious injury, and repeated confrontations by people demanding money, all on account of Indonesian alien’s Christian religion did not amount to persecution).