ÿWPCÆ  ŠÙã§´9$ëØ]5±ÿKF„ê”HçQönQDnæÿ·b¤Zç»Ý›+F'%´Â–§²>)d#˜¹,Ï ¡æNzŠ'0 -ù¦›¬ˆ/þü :Ÿt;×n ‰OÔ¥Þt¤ŠƒÈÐ@¡ô4 Ô@ß²n”oç ÚiÈ6%Í[H©mt-\ŠƒCÍñy5ùÊ|Ì,/µªREñÙËûR™ùÁ x¾Ív°ÀȨ`Œµ^.q‰°É~P×£0]ëò L Ì’˜á;Jb‡Ÿ¡gáÔ†ÃÛm ÃK@™Ü-ÀÕæaåA|„üÍ—4ö®“=u”_‹MÝ’Q€…ž”LguµW³¬oÿ¶â,$ÿ¿í±,éäDC&‡xð÷zháÇr¬ò±ª¡=k&jæ,ÍÁÆžUÅd¡ò{ù3ß¡°sÿª\5W$yÊPL£Õ[ŒÀˆ ¨Ú8AY3¨2³¾©Ç+›Ižˆ*q…õ‚;ãùàò[>eÎm)ï{ov˹®ó\£á‘|¤§>Ò§÷E« üÒáÕÍ z§aq“ÿó2K71/Æ™èFàËí-è•Ó7—fk8ðÁ¤ý,ñŸ i— ‚Ù|çó×WU>ˆ¦Æ 0nl 0YÚ 0_3 0i’Æû 0ÑÁ 0(’ D+º AMå å å 2 0NB 0¶ #ÁF UN %U M[ (_ N‡ ^ ‰ w• 4™ ­ m¯ ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' H. S. v. France, Communication No. 184/1984 (10 April 1986), U.N. Doc.c."Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   <ÿÿ:Default ParaÔ€ôôôÔÔ€XXXÔ6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(©2^J$££Ý ƒÖ!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X¡¿XXXÔÔ€X¡¿XXX¡¿ÔÝ  Ý(ÿÿ$’’'dxd A<< cÿÿ#|x(ÍO$——ÔÿÔòòóóÔÿÔ(ŽÖ$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X¾XXXÔÔ€X¾XXX¾Ô˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÙØÙÙØÈÙ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularXL) È­F)´ëÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒÖ!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€X¡¿XXXÔÔ€X¡¿XXX¡¿ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEÐ ° ÐÌòòH.€S.€v.€FranceóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No.€184/1984Ð H˜ ÐÌ10€April€1986Ð  d ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ Æ   ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€by:óó€H.€S.€(name€deleted)€on€4€September€1984€Ð xÈ  ÐÌòòAlleged€victim:óó€The€author€Ð D”  ÐÌòòState€party:óó€France€Ð ` ÐÌòòDeclared€inadmissible:óó€10€April€1986€(twenty„seventh€session)€óóÐ Ü, ÐÌÌÓ  Óòòò òDecision€on€Admissibilityó óóóÐ ŽÞ ÐÓ©ÓÌÌÓ  Ó1.€The€author€of€the€communication€(initial€letter€dated€4€September€1984€and€further€lettersÐ @ Ðof€23€and€24€April,€24€June,€20€August€and€21€November€1985)€is€H.€S.,€who€currentlyÐ &v Ðresides€in€France.€He€submitted€the€communication€on€his€own€behalf.€Ð  \ ÐÌ2.1.€In€his€initial€letter€(dated€4€September€1984),€the€author€alleged€that€he€had€beenÐ Ø( Ðarbitrarily€deprived€of€his€French€nationality.€He€stated€that€he€had€been€born€in€MauritaniaÐ ¾ Ðin€1944,€at€that€time€a€French€colony;€that€he€had€entered€France€in€1959€as€a€FrenchÐ ¤ô Ðnational,€and€that€he€had€lived€there€ever€since.€When€Mauritania€became€independent€inÐ Š Ú Ð1960,€the€author€claimed€to€have€requested€that€he€retain€his€French€nationality€inÐ p!À  Ðaccordance€with€the€French€Nationality€Code€(Law€No.€60„752€of€28€June€1960).€ManyÐ V"¦! Ðyears€later€(the€author€claimed€that€this€took€place€in€1979),€he€had€allegedly€been€informedÐ <#Œ" Ðby€the€relevant€French€authorities€that,€pursuant€to€a€decision€of€the€Ministry€of€Justice,€heÐ "$r# Ðwas€no€longer€regarded€as€a€French€national€and€that€consequently€he€was€required€to€returnÐ %X $ Ðhis€French€identity€papers.€In€August€1979,€the€author€initiated€proceedings€before€theÐ î%>!% ÐTribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€with€a€view€to€securing€recognition€of€his€FrenchÐ Ô&$"& Ðnationality.€These€proceedings€were,€however,€still€pending€at€the€time€of€the€submission€ofÐ º' #' Ðthe€communication.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ2.2.€The€author€stated€that€his€wife€(born€in€Mali)€and€his€six€children€were€suffering€fromÐ l*¼%* Ðthe€situation.€He€mentioned€that€on€18€November€1983,€the€authorities€had€declined€to€renewÐ R+¢&+ Ðhis€wife's€residence€permit€and€that€they€had€no€place€to€live.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð2.3.€The€author€enclosed€a€copy€of€his€French€identity€card€(No.€3531769,€issued€by€theÐ ° ÐPrefect€of€Police€of€Paris€on€22€October€1973)€and€a€copy€of€his€card€as€reservist€in€theÐ –æ ÐFrench€army€(issued€on€5€December€1983).€Ð |Ì ÐÌ3.€By€its€decision€of€17€October€1984,€the€Working€Group€of€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeÐ H˜ Ðtransmitted€the€communication€under€rule€91€of€the€provisional€rules€of€procedure€to€theÐ . ~ ÐState€party€concerned,€requesting€information€and€observations€relevant€to€the€question€ofÐ  d Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication.€The€Working€Group€also€requested€the€State€party€toÐ ú J Ðprovide€the€Committee€with€copies€of€any€court€orders€or€decisions€relevant€to€this€case.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ4.1.€In€a€submission€dated€26€March€1985,€the€State€party€provided€information€on€theÐ ¬ ü  Ðexisting€legislation€and€regulations€concerning€French€nationality,€in€particular€in€respectÐ ’â  Ðof€individuals€from€the€former€French€overseas€territories.€It€further€submitted€information,Ð xÈ  Ðincluding€a€detailed€chronology€of€legal€decisions,€concerning€the€author's€legal€status€andÐ ^®  Ðobjected€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€on€the€ground€that€domestic€remedies€hadÐ D”  Ðnot€been€exhausted.€It€also€noted€that€the€author€had€not€invoked€any€specific€provision€ofÐ *z  Ðthe€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€in€support€of€his€allegations€and€thatÐ ` Ðhis€communication€therefore€did€not€meet€the€requirements€of€article€1€of€the€OptionalÐ öF ÐProtocol.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ4.2.€Regarding€the€principles€established€by€the€French€Nationality€Code€in€respect€ofÐ ¨ø Ðpersons€from€former€overseas€territories€(Mauritania€had€the€status€of€an€overseas€territoryÐ ŽÞ Ðof€the€French€Republic€on€31€December€1946€and€became€independent€on€28€NovemberÐ tÄ Ð1960),€the€State€party€submitted€that:€Ð Zª ÐÌThe€Act€of€28€July€1960€and€the€subsequent€Act€of€9€January€1973€make€a€distinctionÐ &v Ðbetween€persons€who€are€automatically€French€and€persons€whose€French€nationality€isÐ  \ Ðsubject€to€recognition€in€accordance€with€the€criterion€of€geographical€origin.€To€this€end.Ð òB Ðthe€legislator€differentiated€between€those€who€are€from€and€those€who€are€not€from€theÐ Ø( Ðterritory€of€the€French€Republic.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ(a)€French€persons€from€the€territory€of€the€French€Republic,€as€it€was€constituted€on€28€JulyÐ Š Ú Ð1960,€and€domiciled,€on€the€date€on€which€a€State€previously€having€the€status€of€overseasÐ p!À  Ðterritory€of€the€French€Republic€attained€independence,€in€the€territory€of€that€State€retainedÐ V"¦! ÐFrench€nationality€(an.€152);€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ(b)€French€persons€not€from€the€territory€of€the€French€Republic,€on€the€other€hand,€lostÐ %X $ ÐFrench€nationality€when€their€country€of€origin€gained€its€independence.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌHowever,€persons€were€entitled€to€retain€French€nationality:€Ð º' #' ÐÌ(a)€Automatically,€if€on€the€date€on€which€a€former€overseas€territory€became€independentÐ †)Ö$) Ðthey€were€not€domiciled€in€that€territory.€The€solution€derives€e€òòcontrario€óófrom€the€newÐ l*¼%* Ðarticle€153.€which€sub„jeers€to€a€formal€procedure€only€persons€who€were€not€from€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðterritory€of€the€Republic€and€who€were€domiciled€at€the€time€of€independence€in€the€territoryÐ 8,ˆ', Ðof€the€State€that€became€independent;€Ð -n(- Ї(b)€In€other€cases,€by€the€making€of€a€statement€of€recognition€of€French€nationality€afterÐ ° Ðtheir€domicile€was€transferred€to€France.€The€Act€of€9€January€1973€subsequently€removedÐ –æ Ðthis€option€and€replaced€it€by€an€authorization€for€the€making€of€a€statement€to€restoreÐ |Ì ÐFrench€nationality,€which€is€regulated€by€the€new€articles€153,€156€and€157.€Restoration€ofÐ b² Ðnationality€may€be€denied€on€the€ground€of€unworthiness€òò(Ô_ÔindigniteÔ_Ô)€óóor€failure€to€beÐ H˜ Ðassimilated.€Ð . ~ ÐÌMinor€children€under€18€years€of€age€on€the€date€of€independence€of€the€territory€where€theirÐ ú J Ðparents€were€domiciled€take€the€nationality€of€the€parents.€Ð à 0 ÐÌConsequently,€the€persons€to€which€these€texts€apply,€in€order€to€establish€their€FrenchÐ ¬ ü  Ðnationality,€must:€Ð ’â  ÐÌ(a)€Prove€that€they€were€French€prior€to€independence;€Ð ^®  ÐÌ(b)€Show€that€they€have€retained€French€nationality€in€the€aforementioned€conditions.€Ð *z  ÐÌ4.3.€The€State€party€further€submitted€that€the€following€rules€were€applicable€regardingÐ öF Ðproof€and€contentious€proceedings:€Ð Ü, ÐÌFrench€nationality€is€evidenced€in€cases€of€difficulty€by€a€certificate€issued€by€the€òòÔ_ÔjugeÔ_ÔÐ ¨ø ÐÔ_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€óóof€the€place€of€domicile€of€the€applicant.€òòThe€Ô_ÔjugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€óódraws€up€theÐ ŽÞ Ðcertificate€in€the€light€of€the€applicant's€civil€status,€which€attests€to€the€date€and€place€ofÐ tÄ Ðbirth€and€the€parentage€(art.€149).€Ð Zª ÐÌIf€òòthe€Ô_ÔjugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€óórefuses€to€issue€the€certificate,€the€person€concerned€may€apply€in€aÐ &v Ðnon„contentious€procedure€to€the€Minister€of€Justice€(art.€151).€Ð  \ ÐÌHe€may€also€"institute€proceedings€before€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€with€the€primaryÐ Ø( Ðand€direct€object€of€obtaining€a€judgement€as€to€whether€or€not€he€possesses€FrenchÐ ¾ Ðnationality"€(art.€129).€The€judgement€of€that€court€is€appealable€to€the€Ô_ÔCourÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'appelÔ_Ô,€thenÐ ¤ô Ðto€the€Gout€de€Cassation.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌMoreover,€French€persons€who€have€lost€their€French€nationality€and€who€wish€to€recoverÐ V"¦! Ðit€must,€under€the€procedure€established€in€1973,€make€a€statement€before€the€òòÔ_ÔjugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_ÔÐ <#Œ" Ðóóof€their€place€of€domicile€after€receiving€authorization€to€do€so€from€the€Minister€responsibleÐ "$r# Ðfor€naturalization€{currently€the€Minister€of€Social€Affairs€and€National€Solidarity;€in€1977,Ð %X $ Ðthe€Minister€of€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô)€{art.€153).€Ð î%>!% ÐÌThe€Minister's€refusal€to€authorize€the€making€of€a€statement€can€be€contested€in€non„Ð º' #' Ðcontentious€or€contentious€proceedings.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌIn€the€former€case,€the€party€concerned€may€request€the€Minister€to€reconsider€his€decisionÐ l*¼%* Ðand€to€authorize€the€making€of€a€statement€for€the€restoration€of€nationality.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÔ_ÔÌIn€the€case€of€contentious€proceedings.€the€party€concerned€may€bring€the€matter€of€theÐ -n(- ÐMinister's€refusal€before€the€òòtribunal€Ô_ÔadministratifÔ_Ô,€óóand€may€subsequently€appeal€to€theÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔConseilÔ_Ô€d'etat.€Ð –æ ÐÌ4.4.€The€State€party€observed€that€the€determination€of€the€author's€nationality€was€a€problemÐ b² Ðthat€had€been€rendered€complex€by€the€fact€that€he€had€given€two€different€dates€of€birth:€Ð H˜ ÐÌUp€until€1973,€{H.S.]€claimed€to€have€been€born€in€1923.€As€he€would€thus€have€been€37Ð  d Ðyears€of€age€when€Mauritania€became€independent,€and€as€he€was€domiciled€in€France€inÐ ú J Ð1960,€he€could€originally€have€been€considered€to€be€French.€Ð à 0 ÐÌFrom€1973€onwards,€however,€he€has€claimed€that€he€was€born€in€1944.€This€would€meanÐ ¬ ü  Ðthat€he€was€a€minor€in€1960.€If€so,€he€could€have€retained€French€nationality€only€if€hisÐ ’â  Ðparents€had€themselves€retained€it€Ô_ÔbtitÔ_Ô€he€apparently€has€not€submitted€proof€thereof.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌFurthermore,€the€inquiries€that€were€conducted€during€the€various€proceedings€revealed€thatÐ D”  Ðthere€were€doubts,€not€only€as€to€[H.S.'s]€civil€status€(date€and€place€of€birth,€parentage),€butÐ *z  Ðwith€regard€to€his€actual€identity€in€relation€to€other€individuals€having€the€same€name.Ð ` ÐThese€questions€had€of€necessity€to€be€settled€before€a€decision€could€be€taken€in€respect€ofÐ öF Ðthis€applicant's€nationality.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ4.5.€The€State€party€lists€the€following€decisions€and€other€measures€concerning€the€author'sÐ ¨ø Ðlegal€status:€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ23€February€1959.€A€decision€having€the€legal€validity€of€a€birth€certificate€was€issued€byÐ Zª Ðthe€Tribunal€de€premier€Ô_ÔdegreÔ_Ô€at€Ô_ÔSelibabyÔ_Ô,€at€the€oral€request€of€[H.€S.].€stating€that€he€hadÐ @ Ðbeen€born€at€Ô_ÔMassiÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔChaggorÔ_Ô,€Mauritania,€in€1923.€Ð &v ÐÌ21€February€1967.€In€the€light€of€the€above€decision,€a€certificate€of€French€nationality€wasÐ òB Ðissued€to€[H.€S.]€by€the€Tribunal€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€du€Ô_Ô20òòcÔ_Ôóó€Ô_ÔarrondissementÔ_Ô€de€Paris€on€the€ground€thatÐ Ø( Ðhe€had€been€domiciled€in€France€in€1960€{an.€13,€Ô_ÔpardÔ_Ô.€1,€of€the€ordinance€of€19€OctoberÐ ¾ Ð1945,€in€the€1960€version:€"..€.€persons€domiciled€in€the€ceded€territories€lose€FrenchÐ ¤ô Ðnationality€unless€they€effectively€establish€their€domicile€outside€those€territories").€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ3€March€1967.€A€French€national€identity€card,€No.€1513223„YN€7707,€was€issued€by€theÐ V"¦! ÐPrefect€of€Police€of€Paris.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ24€August€1973.€At€[H.€S.]€request,€the€Ô_ÔProcureurÔ_Ô€de€la€Ô_ÔRepubliqueÔ_Ô,€in€Paris,€had€the€birthÐ %X $ Ðcertificate€mended€to€state€that€FI„'I.€S.]€was€born€in€1944,€not€1923.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ5€October€1973.€The€Ô_ÔJugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€du€Ô_Ô19emeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔarrondissementÔ_Ô€de€Paris€issued€[H.€S.]€a€newÐ º' #' Ðcertificate€of€French€nationality€in€the€light€of€the€change€in€the€date€of€his€birth.€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ22€October€1973.€A€new€identity€card,€No.€353€1769„BU€668€I„I,€was€issued€by€the€PrefectÐ l*¼%* Ðof€Police€of€Paris.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ1975.€[H.€S.€]€again€applied€to€the€Ô_ÔJugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€du€19~me€Ô_ÔarrondissementÔ_Ô€for€a€certificateÐ -n(- Ðof€nationality.€Ð ° ÐÌ23€March€1976.€The€Garde€des€Ô_ÔSceauxÔ_Ô,€Ministry€of€Justice,€sent€a€notice€to€the€Ô_ÔJugeÔ_ÔÐ |Ì ÐÔ_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€du€Ô_Ô19emeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔarrondissementÔ_Ô€de€Paris,€stating€that€[H.€S.]€was€to€be€considered€aÐ b² Ðforeigner.€In€fact,€if€the€party€concerned€had€been€born€in€1944,€as€he€claims,€he€would€haveÐ H˜ Ðbeen€only€16€years€old€when€Mauritania€became€independent€and€could€not,€under€thoseÐ . ~ Ðcircumstances,€be€considered€domiciled€in€France€for€purposes€of€nationality.€since€his€statusÐ  d Ðwas€dependent€on€that€of€his€father€or€surviving€mother€and€he€had€at€no€time€submittedÐ ú J Ðevidence€of€their€living€in€France€at€that€time.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ28€October€1976.€At€the€request€of€the€Ministry€of€Justice€[H.€S.]€returned€the€twoÐ ¬ ü  Ðcertificates€which€had€been€wrongfully€issued,€in€accordance€with€the€official€statementÐ ’â  Ðprepared€by€the€Tribunal€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€at€Ô_ÔAulnayÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔsousÔ_Ô„Bois€on€28€October€1976.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌLate€1976.€[H.€S.]€applied€to€the€Ministry€of€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€for€the€state„merit€of€restoration€ofÐ D”  ÐFrench€nationality€provided€for€in€article€153€of€the€Nationality€Code.€Ð *z  ÐÌ8€March€1977.€The€Ministry€of€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô€rejected€the€application€on€the€ground€that€[H.€S.]Ð öF Ðhad€provided€false€information.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ1979.€[H.€S.]€applied€to€the€Ô_ÔJugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€at€Ô_ÔAulnayÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔsousÔ_Ô„Bois€for€a€new€certificate€ofÐ ¨ø Ðnationality.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ25€May€1979.€[H.€S.]€returned€his€national€identity€card€to€the€Blanc„Ô_ÔMesnilÔ_Ô€police€station.€Ð Zª ÐÌ26€June€1979.€The€Minister€of€Justice€sent€a€notice€identical€to€that€of€23€March€1976€to€theÐ &v ÐÔ_ÔJugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô,€stating€that€the€certificate€of€nationality€should€be€withheld.€Ð  \ ÐÌ3€July€1979.€[H.€S.}€was€notified€of€the€refusal€to€issue€a€certificate€of€nationality.€Ð Ø( ÐÌAugust€1979.€[H€.€S.]€applied€to€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€with€a€view€toÐ ¤ô Ðsecuring€recognition€of€his€French€nationality€{arts.€128„136€of€the€Nationality€Code).€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ9€August€1979.€As€required€under€the€Code€of€Civil€Procedure€[H.€S.'s]€lawyer€forwardedÐ V"¦! Ða€copy€of€the€summons€to€the€Ministry.€of€Justice.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ12€October€1979.€The€lawyer€again€notified€the€Ô_ÔChancellerieÔ_Ô.€the€form€or€the€first€summonsÐ %X $ Ðhaving€been€irregular.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ19€December€1979.€The€Ministry€of€Justice€gave€the€following€instructions€to€the€Ô_ÔProcureurÔ_ÔÐ º' #' Ðof€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô:€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ(a)€The€lawyer€was€to€be€informed€that€the€new€and€currently€prepared€summons€had€beenÐ l*¼%* Ðfiled€with€the€Ministry€of€Justice:€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ(b)€Since€[H.€S.]€had€successively€provided€two€birth€dates€in€the€documents€which€he€hadÐ -n(- Ðsubmitted€for€the€proceedings,€the€court€was€to€be€requested€to€rule€on€the€applicant's€civilÐ ° Ðstatus.€Ð –æ ÐÌ29€January€1980.€[H.€S.]€was€given€a€hearing€by€the€Ô_ÔProcureurÔ_Ô€at€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€concerning€theÐ b² Ðauthenticity€of€the€documents€that€he€had€placed€in€the€file.€It€became€apparent€that€theÐ H˜ Ðtestimony€submitted€to€the€Parquet€de€Paris€in€support€of€the€change€of€date€of€birth€underÐ . ~ Ðthe€decision€of€24€August€1973€had€been€prepared€by€{H.€S.]€himself€because€the€witnessesÐ  d Ðwere€unable€to€write.€This€renders€spurious€the€certificate€issued€on€5€October€1973.€Ð ú J ÐÌ12€March€1980.€The€Minister€of€the€interior€consulted€the€Minister€of€Justice€with€regard€toÐ Æ   Ðthe€status€of€an€individual€named€[A.€S.],€who€purportedly€was€born€at€Ô_ÔSokodiandiÔ_Ô.€Mali,€inÐ ¬ ü  Ð1936.€but€whose€birth€certificate€had€never€been€transmitted.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ14€August€1980.€Since€comparison€of€the€files€of€[H.€S.]€and€[A.€S.]€gave€ground€forÐ ^®  Ðassuming€that€these€two€individuals€were€using€the€same€certificates€and€documents,€theÐ D”  ÐMinister€of€Justice€then€asked€the€Minister€of€the€Interior€to€order€a€thorough€inquiry€inÐ *z  Ðorder€to€identify€each€of€the€persons€concerned€and€to€investigate€if€they€were€making€useÐ ` Ðof€certificates€or€documents€belonging€to€another€person.€Ð öF ÐÌ2€December€1980,€30€January€1981,€6€and€17€February€1982.€Several€telegrams€were€sentÐ Â Ðto€INTERPOL€(Nouakchott)€about€the€identity€of€[H.€S.].€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ9€December€1982.€Request€by€the€Ministry.€of€Justice€for€an€inquiry€into€a€third€individual,Ð tÄ Ðalso€called€[A.€S.].€In€this€connection,€INTERPOL€(Bamako)€was€likewise€asked€severalÐ Zª Ðtimes€to€state€whether€this€third€individual€was€a€twin€brother€of€the€previous€one.€Ð @ ÐÌ14€September€1983.€Hearing€of€the€detainee€[H.€S.],€by€an€investigator€of€the€Poissy€policeÐ  \ Ðdepartment.€Ð òB ÐÌ10€October€1983.€Application€by€the€wife€of€[H€.€S.]€,€born€in€Mall,€for€permission€to€stayÐ ¾ Ðin€France.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ18€November€1983.€Notification€to€Mrs.€[H.€S.]€that€her€application€was€refused.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ29€March€1984.€Preparatory€hearing.€The€judge€responsible€for€preparing€the€proceedingsÐ <#Œ" Ðof€the€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€tribunal€ordered€Ô_ÔMaltreÔ_Ô€Eugene€B.€Ô_ÔYesseÔ_Ô,€[H.€S.'sl€new€lawyer,€to€establishÐ "$r# Ðhis€client's€physical€identity€with€the€individual€said€to€have€entered€France€in€1959€and€toÐ %X $ Ðhave€been€there€on€28€November€1960,€the€date€on€which€Mauritania€attained€independence.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ2€June€1984.€[H.€S.€'s}€application€for€the€restoration€of€his€French€nationality€addressed€toÐ º' #' Ðthe€President€of€the€French€Republic.€This€application€was€transmitted€to€the€Minister€ofÐ  (ð#( ÐSocial€Affairs€and€National€Solidarity€for€action.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ28€August€1984.€Request€by€the€Ministry.€of€Social€Affairs€and€National€Solidarity€to€theÐ R+¢&+ ÐPrefect€of€Seine€and€Marne€(where€[H.€S.]€was€detained)€for€an€inquiry€under€article€153.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð7€August€1984.€Report€of€the€inquiry€by€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior€communicated€to€theÐ ° ÐMinistry€of€Justice.€Ð –æ ÐÌ13€August€1984.€Transmission€of€the€above€report€to€the€Ô_ÔProcureurÔ_Ô€at€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô.€Ð b² ÐÌ16€October€1984.€Transmission€of€the€report€of€the€inquiry€by€the€Prefecture€of€Seine€andÐ . ~ ÐMarne€to€the€Ministry€of€Social€Affairs.€Ð  d ÐÌ7€November€1984.€New€'preparatory€hearing€for€the€case€before€the€Tribunal€de€grandeÐ à 0 Ðinstance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ9€November€1984.€Order€to€[H.€S.€'s]€lawyer€renewed.€Ð ’â  ÐÌ6€February€1985.€Further€preparatory€hearing€at€the€request€of€[H.€S.]€who€had€chosenÐ ^®  Ðanother€counsel;€postponement€until€24€April€1985.€Order€renewed.€Ð D”  ÐÌ4.6.€The€State€party€also€mentioned€that€since€May€1980,€the€author€had€been€serving€aÐ ` Ðseven„year€term€of€imprisonment€for€a€breach€of€the€legislation€on€narcotic€drugs.€Ð öF ÐÌ4.7.€The€State€party€contended€that€the€author€had€not€exhausted€all€available€domesticÐ Â Ðremedies€before€the€competent€French€administrative€and€judicial€authorities,€not€only€withÐ ¨ø Ðregard€to€the€issuing€of€a€certificate€of€French€nationality€by€the€Ô_ÔjugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€(art.€149€ofÐ ŽÞ Ðthe€Nationality€Code),€but€also€with€regard€to€the€procedure€for€the€restoration€of€FrenchÐ tÄ Ðnationality€(art.€153€of€the€Nationality€Code),€because,€first,€the€author€had€failed€to€pursueÐ Zª Ðcertain€courses€of€action€within€the€time„limits€allowed€to€him€and,€secondly,€becauseÐ @ Ðseveral€remedies€were€still€available€to€him.€In€that€connection,€the€State€party€gave€theÐ &v Ðfollowing€details:€Ð  \ ÐÌ(a)€With€regard€to€the€issuing€of€a€certificate€of€French€nationality€by€the€Ô_ÔjugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€(art.Ð Ø( Ð149),€H.€S.€was€refused€the€certificate€on€3€July€1979.€He€started€legal€proceedings€in€AugustÐ ¾ Ð1979€before€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô.€The€proceedings€proved€to€beÐ ¤ô Ðextremely€complicated€because€of€the€doubts€concerning€the€author's€person€and€civil€status.Ð Š Ú ÐIn€the€course€of€1984,€the€judge€responsible€for€preparing€the€case€at€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€ordered€H.€S.Ð p!À  Ð's€lawyer,€without€success,€to€establish€his€client's€identity€{orders€dated€29€March€1984,€9Ð V"¦! ÐNovember€1984€and€6€February€1985).€The€matter€was€subsequently€postponed€until€theÐ <#Œ" Ðhearing€on€24€April€1985.€at€the€request€of€the€applicant€himself.€In€these€circumstances,€theÐ "$r# Ðprolongation€of€the€procedural€period€was€the€responsibility€of€the€author.€In€any€event,€itÐ %X $ Ðwas€for€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€to€pronounce€on€the€application€of€H.Ð î%>!% ÐS.€for€recognition€of€French€nationality.€H.€S.€would€be€able€to€appeal€against€the€judgementÐ Ô&$"& Ðand€then,€if€there€was€occasion,€to€submit€his€case€to€the€Ô_ÔCourÔ_Ô€de€cassation.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ(b)€With€regard€to€the€procedure€for€the€restoration€of€French€nationality€(art.€153€of€theÐ †)Ö$) ÐNationality€Code):€first,€H.€S.€neither€applied€to€the€competent€Minister,€nor€institutedÐ l*¼%* Ðproceedings€before€the€administrative€tribunals€with€a€view€to€the€overturning€of€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðnegative€decision€of€the€Minister€of€Ô_ÔLabourÔ_Ô.€dated€8€March€1977.€Those€remedies€could€haveÐ 8,ˆ', Ðbeen€sought€simultaneously.€as€mentioned€above.€Secondly,€a€new€application€was€currentlyÐ -n(- Ðunder€examination€at€the€Ministry€of€Social€Affairs€and€National€Solidarity,€H.€S.€havingÐ ° Ðagain,€in€1984,€requested€authorization€to€make€a€declaration€of€French€nationality€beforeÐ –æ Ðthe€competent€Ô_ÔjugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô.€Should€the€Minister€of€Social€Affairs€and€National€SolidarityÐ |Ì Ðturn€down€the€application,€again€all€of€the€aforementioned€remedies€could€be€sought€by€H.Ð b² ÐS.€by€contentious€and€non„contentious€means€alike.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ5.€I.€In€further€submissions€dated€23€and€24€April€1985€the€author€commented€on€the€StateÐ  d Ðparty's€submission€and€reiterated€that€he€had€been€arbitrarily€deprived€of€his€FrenchÐ ú J Ðnationality€in€1979€and€that€since€then,€despite€all€his€efforts€and€the€procedures€to€which€heÐ à 0 Ðhad€applied,€he€remained€in€the€same€situation.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ5.2.€Concerning€his€date€of€birth,€the€author€stated€that€he€had€been€born€in€Mauritania€inÐ ’â  Ð1944,€that€his€father€had€died€during€the€Second€World€War€fighting€for€France,€that€hisÐ xÈ  Ðmother€had€died€in€1958,€that€in€1959€he€had€decided€to€travel€to€France.€In€order€to€obtainÐ ^®  Ða€birth€certificate,€he€had€gone€to€the€Tribunal€de€premier€Ô_ÔdegreÔ_Ô€at€Ô_ÔSelibabyÔ_Ô,€Mauritania.€AÐ D”  Ðdecision,€having€the€legal€validity€of€a€birth€certificate,€had€been€issued€by€the€tribunal€onÐ *z  Ð23€February€1959€stating€that€he€had€been€born€at€Ô_ÔMassiÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔChaggorÔ_Ô,€Mauritania,€in€1923.€TheÐ ` Ðauthor€further€stated€that€the€Ô_ÔHautÔ_Ô€Commissariat€de€Ô_Ôl'AfriqueÔ_Ô€occidentale€Ô_ÔfrancaiseÔ_Ô,€on€theÐ öF Ðbasis€of€that€decision,€had€issued€to€him€an€identity€card€with€which€he€had€traveled€toÐ Ü, ÐFrance.€He€had€used€the€card€for€employment€purposes,€to€pay€his€social€insurance,€etc.;Ð Â Ðuntil€21€February€1967.€On€that€day€he€had€been€issued€a€certificate€of€French€nationalityÐ ¨ø Ðby€the€Tribunal€Ô_Ôd'instanceÔ_Ô€du€Ô_Ô20emeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔarrondissementÔ_Ô€de€Paris€and€on€3€March€1967,€he€hadÐ ŽÞ Ðbeen€given€a€French€national€identity€card€by€the€Prefect€of€Police€of€Paris.€He€stressed€thatÐ tÄ Ðat€no€time€had€he€submitted€false€information€and€that€he€could€not€be€held€responsible€forÐ Zª Ðan€error€(concerning€his€date€of€birth)€made€in€the€decision€taken€by€the€tribunal€of€Ô_ÔSelibabyÔ_Ô.Ð @ ÐThe€author€mentioned,€however,€that€in€1983€he€had€requested€a€change€in€his€date€of€birthÐ &v Ðbecause€he€had€been€born€in€1944€and€not€in€1923.€On€5€October€1973,€he€had€been€issuedÐ  \ Ða€new€certificate€of€French€nationality€by€the€competent€judge€and€on€22€October€1973€heÐ òB Ðhad€received€a€new€identity€card.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ5.3.€The€author€contested€the€whole€process€by€which€he€had€been€deprived€of€his€FrenchÐ ¤ô Ðnationality.€In€particular€he€contested€the€reasoning€of€the€Garde€des€Ô_ÔSceauxÔ_Ô€on€23€MarchÐ Š Ú Ð1976€(see€para.€4.5)€because€he€had€been€domiciled€in€France€since€1959.€He€argued€thatÐ p!À  Ðeven€if,€in€1960,€he€had€been€a€minor,€his€status€could€not€have€been€dependent€on€that€ofÐ V"¦! Ðhis€parents.€He€recalls€that€they€both€died€prior€to€the€independence€of€Mauritania€in€1960.Ð <#Œ" ÐTherefore,€he€saw€himself€as€a€victim€of€discrimination.€The€author€claimed€that€the€StateÐ "$r# Ðparty's€assertions€that€"the€proceedings€have€proved€to€be€extremely€complicated€becauseÐ %X $ Ðof€the€doubts€concerning€the€author's€person€and€civil€status"€(see€above€para.€4.7€(a))€wereÐ î%>!% Ðnot€valid€and€that€the€application€of€domestic€remedies€in€that€regard€had€been€unreasonablyÐ Ô&$"& Ðprolonged€within€the€meaning€of€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b)€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€HeÐ º' #' Ðargues€that€there€could€be€no€doubt€about€his€person€and€status,€since€he€had€lawfully€livedÐ  (ð#( Ðand€worked€in€France€since€1959,€he€had€no€brothers€and€he€did€not€know€of€any€personÐ †)Ö$) Ðhaving€his€name.€He€added€that€there€were€approximately€1€million€individuals€with€hisÐ l*¼%* Ðfamily€name€in€West€Africa.€With€regard€to€the€procedure€for€the€restoration€of€FrenchÐ R+¢&+ Ðnationality€(art.€153€of€the€Nationality€Code),€he€argued€that€he€had€never€applied€to€theÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcompetent€minister€nor€initiated€proceedings€before€the€administrative€tribunals€for€theÐ -n(- Ðsimple€reason€that€he€was€French€and€had€always€been€French.€In€particular,€he€denied€thatÐ ° Ðon€2€June€1984€he€had€written€to€the€President€of€the€French€Republic€"for€the€restorationÐ –æ Ðof€his€French€nationality"€(see€para.€4.5).€He€had€written€a€letter€merely€to€request€dueÐ |Ì Ðprocess€of€law€in€his€case.€Ð b² ÐÌ5.4.€Regarding€his€detention,€the€author€reiterated€that€in€1979€he€had€been€obliged€to€returnÐ . ~ Ðhis€national€identity€card.€He€stated€that€at€that€time€he€had€become€afraid€that€he€might€beÐ  d Ðdismissed€from€his€job€at€Air€France€because€of€lack€of€legal€documents.€Believing€that€hisÐ ú J Ðsituation€was€precarious,€he€had€felt€that€he€had€no€choice€but€to€agree,€when€approached€inÐ à 0 Ðthe€presence€of€his€supervisor,€to€be€involved€in€drug€trafficking.€That€had€brought€about€hisÐ Æ   Ðarrest€in€March€1980.€He€alleged€discrimination€because€his€supervisor,€a€white€man,€hadÐ ¬ ü  Ðnever€been€tried€while€he€himself€and€three€other€black€colleagues€had€been€sentenced€toÐ ’â  Ðseveral€years€of€imprisonment.€He€mentioned€that€he€had€been€sentenced€by€a€FrenchÐ xÈ  Ðtribunal€as€"French"€and€that€during€his€trial€for€drug€trafficking€the€question€of€hisÐ ^®  Ðnationality€had€not€been€put€into€question.€However,€subsequently„„as€shown€in€a€copy€ofÐ D”  Ða€letter€dated,€it€appears,€in€June€1983,€addressed€by€the€Prefecture€des€Ô_ÔYvelinesÔ_Ô€(ForeignersÐ *z  ÐDepartment)€to€the€Director€of€the€Poissy€prison„„the€prison€authorities€were€informed€thatÐ ` ÐH.€S.,€"who€has€declared€that€he€is€a€French€national,€is€in€fact€Mauritanian",€and€that€theÐ öF Ðcriminal€record€of€this€"foreigner"€should€be€forwarded€to€the€Prefecture.€Ð Ü, ÐÌ5.5.€Regarding€his€family,€the€author€enclosed€copies€of€birth€certificates€of€his€six€childrenÐ ¨ø Ð(one€born€in€Mall,€the€others€in€France).€It€appears€that€he€has€three€wives€(two€from€Mall,Ð ŽÞ Ðone€from€Senegal).€He€submitted€copies€of€certificates€of€French€nationality€regarding€threeÐ tÄ Ðof€his€children.€His€wife,€M.€M.,€mother€of€these€three€children,€was€allowed,€in€JanuaryÐ Zª Ð1985,€to€stay€in€France,€but€according€to€the€author,€she€is€not€allowed€to€work€or€to€receiveÐ @ Ðsocial€security€allowances.€He€recalled€that€in€1983€she€had€been€requested€to€leave€FranceÐ &v Ðand€enclosed€a€copy€of€a€letter€dated€18€November"1983€from€the€Prefecture€de€Police€toÐ  \ Ðthat€effect.€Ð òB ÐÌ6.€At€the€twenty„fifth€session€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€in€July€1985,€the€State€partyÐ ¾ Ðwas€requested€to€submit€further€information€concerning€the€author's€legal€situation€and,€inÐ ¤ô Ðparticular,€the€State€party€was€asked€to€indicate€when€a€final€decision€concerning€the€author'sÐ Š Ú Ðnationality€might€be€expected,€if€he€pursued€the€matter€in€a€timely€fashion.€At€the€same€time,Ð p!À  Ðthe€author€was€requested€to€specify€which€provisions€of€the€Covenant€had€allegedly€beenÐ V"¦! Ðviolated€in€his€case.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ7.1.€By€a€further€letter€dated€20€August€1985,€the€author€claimed€to€be€a€victim€of€violationsÐ %X $ Ðof€the€following€provisions€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights:Ð î%>!% Ðarticles€2,€paragraphs€l€and€3€(b);€5,€paragraph€2;€7;€9,€paragraph€4;€15,€paragraph€1;€16;€17,Ð Ô&$"& Ðparagraphs€1€and€2;€23;€24€and€26.€He€offered€the€following€clarifications€in€substantiationÐ º' #' Ðof€his€claims:€Ð  (ð#( ÐÌ(a)€That€articles€2,€paragraph€3€(b);€9,€paragraph€4;€and€16€had€been€violated€because€aÐ l*¼%* Ðcomplaint€which€he€had€lodged€against€two€judges€of€the€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€jurisdiction€in€FebruaryÐ R+¢&+ Ð1985,€for€allegedly€acting€against€his€interests€and€rights,€had€not€been€properly€considered;€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð(b)€That€articles€7;€9,€paragraph€4;€and€15,€paragraph€1,€had€been€violated€because€he€hadÐ ° Ðbeen€allegedly€unjustly€convicted€and€sentenced€to€seven€years€of€imprisonment€in€198€I,Ð –æ Ðand€because€the€French€authorities,€in€general,€and€the€judges,€in€particular,€were€bent€onÐ |Ì Ðharming€him;€Ð b² ÐÌ(c)€That€articles€2,€paragraph€1;€5,€paragraph€2;€17;€23;€24€and€26€had€been€violated€becauseÐ . ~ Ðhe€has€suffered€discrimination€in€the€sense€that.€despite€all€his€efforts,€the€case€concerningÐ  d Ðhis€nationality€has€been€pending€before€the€courts€since€1979€and€because€his€Ô_ÔhonourÔ_Ô€andÐ ú J Ðreputation€had€been€undermined,€his€family€had€not€received€social€security€allowances€andÐ à 0 Ðhis€children€had€been€deprived€of€proper€education.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ7.2.€By€a€further€letter€dated€21€November€1985,€the€author€transmitted€to€the€Human€RightsÐ ’â  ÐCommittee€a€copy€of€submissions€dated€15€and€23€October€1985€from€his€lawyer,€MaitreÐ xÈ  ÐÔ_ÔTourretteÔ_Ô,€to€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô.€In€his€submissions,€the€lawyer,Ð ^®  Ðafter€a€lengthy€description€of€his€client's€case,€requested€that€the€court:€Ð D”  ÐÌ(a)€Take€note€that€his€client€had€proven€that€he€was€the€H.€S.€born€in€1944€and€present€inÐ ` ÐFrance€before€28€November€1960,€the€date€when€Mauritania€had€acceded€to€independence;€Ð öF ÐÌ(b)€State€that€H.€S.,€born€in€194,4,€orphaned€in€1959,€the€date€of€his€arrival€in€France,Ð Â Ðretained€nationality€by€filiation€and€also€because€of€his€presence€on€the€territory€in€theÐ ¨ø ÐRepublic€of€France€prior€to€the€independence€of€Mauritania;€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ(c)€Recognize€that€H.€S.€had€possessed€French€status€for€more€than€10€years.€He€consideredÐ Zª Ðit€of€lesser€importance€that,€if€the€Court€considered€the€application€to€be€insufficiently€well„Ð @ Ðrounded,€it€should€order€any€additional€information€or€any€hearing€of€witnesses€ready€toÐ &v Ðfurnish€information€both€on€the€family€of€H.€S.€and€his€presence€in€France€before€theÐ  \ Ðindependence€of€Mauritania.€Ð òB ÐÌ8.1.€By€way€of€additional€observations,€submitted€under€cover€of€a€letter€from€the€PermanentÐ ¾ ÐRepresentative€of€France€to€the€United€Nations€dated€2€December€1985,€the€State€partyÐ ¤ô Ðnoted€that,€in€the€legal€proceedings€instituted€before€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€ofÐ Š Ú ÐÔ_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€(Court€of€Major€Jurisdiction)€by€the€author€with€a€view€to€securing€recognition€ofÐ p!À  Ðhis€French€nationality,€he€had€recently€changed€his€lawyer€once€again.€He€had€also€appliedÐ V"¦! Ðfor€full€legal€aid,€which€had€been€granted€to€him.€The€State€party€confirmed€that€MaitreÐ <#Œ" ÐÔ_ÔTourretteÔ_Ô,€the€author's€new€lawyer,€had€made€his€written€submission€on€23€October€1985,Ð "$r# Ðand€it€stated€that€the€pre„trial€judge€at€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€had€been€obliged€to€refer€the€papers€in€theÐ %X $ Ðcase€for€final€consideration€on€4€December€1985.€The€State€party€added€that€following€thisÐ î%>!% Ðhearing,€the€case€could€be€brought€before€the€Tribunal€on€19€December€1985€(see€para.€8.7).€Ð Ô&$"& ÐÌ8.2.€The€State€party€reiterated€that€the€prolongation€of€time„limits€continued€to€be,€as€wasÐ  (ð#( Ðthe€case€earlier,€the€responsibility€of€the€author€and€that€he€had€not€exhausted€all€theÐ †)Ö$) Ðremedies€available€under€domestic€law.€For€the€State€party€it€seemed€obvious€that€hisÐ l*¼%* Ðcommunication€ought€to€be€rejected€in€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€article€5,€paragraphÐ R+¢&+ Ð2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð8.3.€The€State€party€observed€that€the€author,€in€his€further€letter€of€20€August€1985€(seeÐ ° Ðpara.€7.1),€had€referred€to€proceedings€instituted€by€himself€after€he€had€submitted€hisÐ –æ Ðcommunication€relating€to€the€question€of€his€nationality€to€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeÐ |Ì Ðand€it€stated€that€those€proceedings€concerned€other€issues€than€that€of€his€nationality.€ItÐ b² Ðfurther€stated€that€the€proceedings€consisted€of€an€interim€relief€procedure€institutedÐ H˜ Ðfollowing€imprisonment€for€non„payment€of€a€customs€fine€and€of€complaints€filed€againstÐ . ~ Ðjudges€of€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô.€Those€proceedings,€according€to€theÐ  d ÐState€party,€could€be€summarized€as€follows:€Ð ú J ÐÌ(a)€The€proceedings€concerning€imprisonment€for€debt€Ð Æ   ÐÌOn€15€July€1985,€[H.€S.]€made€an€application€to€the€President€of€the€Tribunal€de€grandeÐ ’â  Ðinstance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€challenging€the€imprisonment€for€debt.€Ð xÈ  ÐÌOn€31€July€1985,€the€President€issued€an€interim€relief€order€referring€the€case€to€theÐ D”  Ðcompetent€criminal€court€for€a€final€decision.€Ð *z  ÐÌOn€13€September€1985,€the€order€was€served€on€him€by€a€bailiff.€On€30€August€1985,€aÐ öF Ðdeclaration€of€lack€of€jurisdiction€was€issued,€after€the€author€had€made€a€further€applicationÐ Ü, Ðto€the€President€of€the€Tribunal€which€virtually€repeated€the€arguments€adduced€in€hisÐ Â Ðapplication€of€15€July€1985.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌIn€conclusion,€since€the€Customs€Administration€is€currently€considering€a€settlement€withÐ tÄ Ð[H.€S.],€he€might€be€released.€Ð Zª ÐÌ(b)€Complaints€against€judges€Ð &v ÐÌOn€27€March€1985,€[H.€S.]€filed€a€complaint€against€the€senior€examining€magistrate€ofÐ òB ÐÔ_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€together€with€a€proposed€civil€action€for€damages,€couched€in€terms€that€did€notÐ Ø( Ðspecify€the€precise€nature€of€the€grievances€he€intended€to€develop€and€that€he€refused€toÐ ¾ Ðclarify.€The€Public€Prosecutor€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€nevertheless€made€an€application€to€the€CriminalÐ ¤ô ÐChamber€of€the€Ô_ÔCourÔ_Ô€de€Cassation€for€a€court€to€be€appointed€to€investigate€the€matter,€sinceÐ Š Ú Ðthe€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€tribunal€did€not€have€jurisdiction€to€investigate€a€case€against€one€of€its€ownÐ p!À  Ðjudges.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌOn€3€August€1985,€the€Court€de€Cassation€made€an€order€stating€that€there€was€no€groundÐ "$r# Ðfor€appointing€such€a€court,€since€it€was€not€in€a€position€to€determine€whether€one€or€severalÐ %X $ Ðpersons€were€liable€to€be€charged.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌH.€S.€was€notified€of€this€decision€on€24€September€1985.€Ð º' #' ÐÌOn€6€October€1985€[H.€Ô_ÔS.IÔ_Ô€made€further€complaints€to€the€senior€examining€magistrate€ofÐ †)Ö$) Ðthe€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€concerning€one€of€the€examining€magistrates€ofÐ l*¼%* Ðthat€court.€The€latter€magistrate€had€on€29€March€1980€charged€[14.€S.]€with€breaking€theÐ R+¢&+ Ðlaw€on€narcotics€and€smuggling€in€contraband€goods,€then€ordered€that€he€should€be€detainedÐ 8,ˆ', Ðprovisionally.€On€10€February€1981.€he€had€referred€him,€with€three€co„accused,€to€theÐ -n(- ÐCorrectional€Court€to€be€tried€on€those€above„mentioned€counts.€Ð ° ÐÌ8.4.€With€regard€to€the€author's€allegations€that€his€family€had€not€received€social€securityÐ |Ì Ðallowances,€the€State€party€observed€that€his€children€had€been€taken€into€care€by€theÐ b² Ðdepartmental€Social€Assistance€Office€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€and€placed€in€a€home,€their€mother€beingÐ H˜ Ðof€no€fixed€abode;€that€Act€No.€75„551€of€2€July€1975€protected€the€families€of€prisoners€inÐ . ~ Ðrespect€of€sickness€benefits€and€maternity€and€that€thus€far€H.€S.'s€wife€had€not€applied€toÐ  d Ðthe€Caisse€Ô_ÔprimaireÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'assuranceÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔmaladieÔ_Ô€for€social€benefits.€The€State€party€further€observedÐ ú J Ðthat:€Ð à 0 ÐÌAll€these€grievances€thus€invoked€by€the€applicant€are€not€only€tardy,€but€do€not€fall€withinÐ ¬ ü  Ðthe€scope€of€the€consideration€of€this€communication,€which€is€concerned€solely€withÐ ’â  Ðexisting€legal€and€administrative€procedures€relating€to€the€question€of€his€nationality.€TheyÐ xÈ  Ðshould€therefore€be€kept€separate.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ8.5.€With€regard€to€the€alleged€violations€of€articles€7€and€17€of€the€Covenant,€the€State€partyÐ *z  Ðnoted€that€the€author€had€offered€no€justification€in€support€of€his€allegations.€It€further€notedÐ ` Ðthat€it€failed€to€see€how€the€author€could€have€been€subjected€to€inhuman€and€degradingÐ öF Ðtreatment€or€subjected€to€attacks€on€his€Ô_ÔhonourÔ_Ô€and€reputation€in€connection€with€the€legalÐ Ü, Ðproceedings€before€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô,€the€purpose€of€which€wasÐ Â Ðto€resolve€the€complex€legal€problem€of€his€nationality€and€to€do€so€at€his€own€request.€InÐ ¨ø Ðalleging€violations€of€articles€7€and€17€of€the€Covenant€in€this€respect,€the€State€partyÐ ŽÞ Ðaffirmed,€he€was€in€error.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ8.6.€Finally,€the€State€party€emphasized€that,€contrary€to€what€the€author€would€appear€toÐ @ Ðmaintain,€no€provision€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€obligedÐ &v Ða€State€to€confer€nationality€on€individuals€who€applied€for€it.€It€reiterated€that€the€right€ofÐ  \ Ðevery€State€to€determine€who€were€its€nationals€so€far€as€its€international€obligations€wereÐ òB Ðconcerned€was€an€uncontested€principle€of€public€international€law.€Ð Ø( ÐÌ8.7.€By€a€letter€dated€28€March€1986,€the€author€informed€the€Committee€that€the€TribunalÐ ¤ô Ðde€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€had€handed€down€a€decision€in€the€case€on€13€March€1986,Ð Š Ú Ðdenying€him€recognition€of€French€nationality;€that€he€had€filed€an€appeal€against€thatÐ p!À  Ðdecision€and€that€he€intended,€as€a€last€resort,€to€bring€his€case€before€the€Ô_ÔCourÔ_Ô€de€cassation,Ð V"¦! Ðif€so€warranted.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ9.1.€Before€proceeding€to€the€merits€of€the€case,€the€Committee'€must€determine€whether€theÐ %X $ Ðsame€matter€was€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigation.€orÐ î%>!% Ðsettlement.€There€is€no€indication€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€is€the„case.€The€Committee€must€also€determineÐ Ô&$"& Ðwhether€the€communication€fulfils€other€admissibility€criteria€under€the€Optional€Protocol,Ð º' #' Ðincluding€the€condition€relating€to€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€set€out€in€article€5,Ð  (ð#( Ðparagraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.€In€this€connection,€the€Committee€hasÐ †)Ö$) ÐÔ_ÔendeavouredÔ_Ô€to€elicit€from€the€State€party€clarifications€regarding€the€apparent€prolongedÐ l*¼%* Ðdelays€in€the€court€proceedings€related€to€the€question€of€the€author's€nationality.€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ9.2.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€has€maintained€that€the€inquiries€that€wereÐ -n(- Ðconducted€during€the€various€proceedings€revealed€that€there€were€doubts€not€only€as€to€theÐ ° Ðauthor's€civil€status€(date€and€place€of€birth€and€parentage),€but€also€with€regard€to€his€actualÐ –æ Ðidentity€in€relation€to€other€individuals€having€the€same€name€and€that€these€questions€hadÐ |Ì Ðof€necessity€to€be€settled€before€a€decision€could€be€taken€in€respect€of€the€author'sÐ b² Ðnationality€(see€para.€4.4).€The€Committee€further€notes€the€State€party's€assertion€that€theÐ H˜ Ðauthor€has€not€exhausted€all€the€domestic€remedies€available€before€the€competent€FrenchÐ . ~ Ðadministrative€and€judicial€authorities,€not€only€with€regard€to€the€issuing€of€a€certificate€ofÐ  d ÐFrench€nationality€by€the€Ô_ÔjugeÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'insranceÔ_Ô€(art.€149),€but€also€with€regard€to€the€procedure€forÐ ú J Ðthe€restoration€of€French€nationality€(art.€153€of€the€Nationality€Code)€(see€para.€4.7).€Ð à 0 ÐÌ9.3.€The€Committee€observes€that€the€present€case€concerns€solely€Mr.€H.€S.'s€efforts€to€haveÐ ¬ ü  Ðhis€nationality,€as€that€of€a€French€citizen,€recognized€anew€by€the€French€authorities.€H.€S.Ð ’â  Ðmaintains€that€his€nationality€was€not€in€dispute€when€he€entered€France.€Later,€on€23€MarchÐ xÈ  Ð1976,€the€Ministry€of€Justice€made€it€known€that€H.€S.€should€be€regarded€as€a€foreigner.€HeÐ ^®  Ðwas€required€to€surrender€two€certificates€of€French€nationality,€issued€to€him€in€1967€andÐ D”  Ð1973,€respectively,€and€to€hand€in€his€national€identity€card.€After€unsuccessful€attempts€toÐ *z  Ðpersuade€the€Ministry€of€Justice€to€"restore"€his€French€nationality€and€to€obtain€a€newÐ ` Ð"certificate€of€nationality"€from€the€competent€judge,€H.€S.,€in€August€1979,€applied€to€theÐ öF ÐTribunal€de€grande€instance€of€Ô_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô'€for€"recognition"€of€his€French€nationality.€UponÐ Ü, Ðcompletion,€those€proceedings€are€appealable,€first,€to€the€Ô_ÔCourÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôd'appetÔ_Ô€and.€secondly,€to€theÐ Â ÐÔ_ÔCourÔ_Ô€de€cassation.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ9.4.€The€Committee€is€aware€that€the€proceedings€before€the€Tribunal€de€grande€instance€deÐ tÄ ÐÔ_ÔBobignyÔ_Ô€lasted€for€more€than€six€and€a€half€years.€However,€the€Committee€finds€that€theÐ Zª Ðdelays€in€the€proceedings€in€1984€and€1985€were€caused€by€the€author€himself.€For€thatÐ @ Ðreason€the€Committee€is€unable€to€conclude€that€the€domestic€remedies,€which,€accordingÐ &v Ðto€both€parties,€are€in€progress,€have€been€unduly€prolonged€in€a€manner€that€would€exemptÐ  \ Ðthe€author€from€exhausting€them€under€article€5,€paragraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol.*€Ð òB ÐÌ9.5.€In€the€light€of€the€observations€set€out€in€paragraphs€9.3€and€9.4€above,€the€CommitteeÐ ¾ Ðis€obliged€to€conclude€that.€even€assuming€that€the€facts€of€the€case€might€have€raised€issuesÐ ¤ô Ðunder€the€Covenant.€the€requirement€of€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies,€under€article€5,Ð Š Ú Ðparagraph€2€(b),€of€the€Optional€Protocol,€had€not€been€met€by€the€author€at€the€time€of€theÐ p!À  Ðsubmission€of€the€communication€in€September€1984€and€that€this€requirement€has€still€notÐ V"¦! Ðbeen€met.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ9.6.€H.S.€has€introduced€other€issues€in€the€case,€mostly€after€the€communication€wasÐ %X $ Ðtransmitted€to€the€State€party€for€observations€on€the€question€of€admissibility.€These€issuesÐ î%>!% Ðare€either€unsubstantiated€or€fall€outside€the€scope€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andÐ Ô&$"& ÐPolitical€Rights€and€will,€therefore,€not€be€examined€by€the€Committee.€Ð º' #' ÐÌ10.€The€Human€Rights€Committee€therefore€decides:€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ(1)€That€the€communication€is€inadmissible;€Ð R+¢&+ ÐÌ(2)€That€the€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€author€and€to€the€State€party.€Ð -n(- Ї___________Ð ° Ð*€The€Committee€notes€that€although€there€is€agreement€between€the€parties€that€the€courtÐ –æ Ðproceedings€for€the€"recognition"€of€the€author's€nationality€were€initiated€in€1979€and€areÐ |Ì Ðstill€in€progress.€the€parties€do€not€agree€on€the€question€of€whether€the€separateÐ b² Ðadministrative€procedure€for€the€"restoration"€of€the€author's€nationality€was€invoked€by€himÐ H˜ Ðin€1984.€Ð . ~ ÐÓÓ