Nabil-Sobhi

MEMORANDUM

Ibrahim Mikhael Nabil-Sobhi (“Nabil-Sobhi”), a native of Egypt and citizen of Lebanon, seeks review of the denial of his petition for asylum. The immigration judge (“IJ”) found that Nabil-Sobhi’s testimony and evidence would be sufficient, if credited, to establish eligibility for asylum. He did not, however, find Nabil-Sobhi credible. The Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) affirmed without opinion. Because the IJ failed to give a cogent reason supported by substantial evidence and going to the heart of Nabil-Sobhi’s claim for asylum, we reverse the adverse credibility determination and remand for further proceedings. See Singh v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 1100, 1105 (9th Cir.2006).

Nabil-Sobhi testified to experiences of persecution at the hands of both the Egyptian and Syrian authorities on account of his religion, Coptic Orthodox Christianity, and his political affiliation with a Christian militia in Lebanon. His testimony was as follows. Between 1990 and 2001, while living in Christian areas of Lebanon and working as a painter for the Christian militia there, Nabil-Sobhi was detained three times by the Syrian authorities and interrogated and severely beaten on each…