to have been an isolated incident unrelated to Varon’s 1996 political activities. Even assuming a nexus between Varon’s political opinion and the incidents of mistreatment alleged, however, we do not find that the record compels a conclusion that these events, whether viewed separately or cumulatively, were severe and pervasive enough to constitute persecution. Although the INA does not expressly define “persecution” for purposes of qualifying as a “refugee,” we have repeatedly stated that “persecution is an extreme concept, requiring more than a few isolated incidents of verbal harassment or intimidation, and that mere harassment does not amount to persecution.” Sepulveda, 401 F.3d at 1231 (quotations and citation omitted); see also Nelson v. INS, 232 F.3d 258, 263 (1st Cir.2000) (<HOLDING>). In determining whether an alien has
holding that the harm must rise above mere harassment holding that to constitute persecution the harm must rise above mere harassment holding that persecution must rise above unpleasantness harassment and even basic suffering holding that harm must be sufficiently severe rising above mere harassment to constitute persecution holding that harm must be sufficiently severe and rise above mere harassment