What must an applicant establish about the persecutor in order to claim asylum?

To successfully claim asylum, an applicant must establish that the persecutor has the capability to carry out persecution, particularly based on the applicant's protected characteristic or belief. This notion emphasizes the requirement that the persecutor is not only aware of the applicant's identity or status but also has the power and intent to inflict harm or discrimination against the applicant due to that identity or status.

The capability of the persecutor is crucial because, without this element, the fear of persecution may not be credible or substantiated. It ensures that the threat of harm is not hypothetical but rather rooted in the reality of the persecutor's ability to act upon their beliefs or biases. This principle is central to establishing a well-founded fear of persecution, which is a foundational element in the asylum process.

The other choices do not encompass the necessary elements of persecution in the same manner. While establishing that the persecutor possesses a protected characteristic might imply motive, it does not address the actual capability to inflict harm. Likewise, showing past suffering of persecution by the applicant is important but does not directly relate to the characteristics of the persecutor. Lastly, seeking asylum due to economic hardship does not constitute a basis for persecution as defined under asylum law. Thus, the focus on the persecut