ÿWPC)  l‚°PñLÇpcXÕYnˆ X¹Š~*§`^O›gg ®ûˆÁ[Ú@Þ‰'·lI‡À„Ø»LzÇ©²1?d´H'w}¸#¼[ƒRsf5œ|ÕÓùJLVJ¾z ¢`6ÌÐD%Ü9¤O$x7¿’[;4–I—@I8<L6wjnÍÁjyå²c¯ú©D-%´ü_<4áÊ`ø>Ô¶Ó^©"«Á‘֛¨þ@aÖkVʘ<–®ÍÌ£Þ[D½3eÂöÂQ‰1C±/še’µµ {òœöʲâRç©>'3ºBŠdápÀ*Ïô`¾ø¿«>3kà ¥S á$Q¤š¦Î—‡‹¬*eçµôMœFÎà' u™Ž‚¶L{r£”ùüÉ(±ÑÕ³ð|1£ ³d³F¥)x3äÃÏÑ‹ºË=–v+jD“ßÎú„ü8y•›_*Ñ‹y¥E,óÇ%n‘\˜¸vü‡zܺBD<¯?Z'<$޶Àxn:G-ÓS)ñŠ]ƒ¢¯¡ ¢›Èßß™C@ƒ[ºÜÇÀn¦îd›ËàzôªV¼¤úwä^™•U5YA… VõÔý]ÜM÷RWyȲ¨…Lû6Kðϯt’‡ÉèÄP_•Xópt® ØzU>BÌ€ 0nL 0iº 0Y# 0_| 0&ÛU6  7 0ÆG #! UN. %| M‚ († N® ^ ° w@¼ 4ü  m ô\  `‹&Times New Roman' United Nations Human Rights Website - Treaty Bodies Database - Document - Jurisprudence - 4nt - Jurisprudence - "Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   <ÿÿ:Default ParaÔ€ôôôÔÔ€XXXÔ< ÿÿ:Normal (Web)Ô S ÔÓ =jSÓÓ =jSÓ6ÿÿ4HyperlinkóóòòÔ ÿ ÔóóÔ  Ô<ÿÿ:FollowedHypeóóòòÔ  ÔóóÔ  Ô<qyÿÿ:HTML TypewriÔ€ôôôÔÔK€<þ6X9`(‹Courier NewKÔÔ  ÔÔ€XXXÔÔS€ô\  `‹&Times New RomanSÔÔ  Ô<þ6X9`(‹Courier New#|x (ž¥S$¡¡ÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ X{0XX XÔÔ€X{0XX X{0ÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular XHr4)Æ £UU£E E E E E Eas()a(”Progra ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ ¥S!ÝÒܰÒÒܰÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ X˜"XX XÔÔ€X˜"XX X˜"ÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòA.€v.€The€NetherlandsóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunication€No€91/1997ÌÌ13€November€1998ÌÌCAT/C/21/D/91/1997ÌÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Ô$  ÐÌññÌññÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€A.€(name€withheld)€[represented€by€counsel]€Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€The€Netherlands€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€23€October€1997€óóÐ  p ÐÌÌòòññÓ  ÓññThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ ä4 ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€ÌÌòòMeetingóó€on€13€November€1998,€Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€88/1997,€submitted€to€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orÏPunishment,€ÌÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ 0"€  Ðcommunication,€her€counsel€and€the€State€party,€ÌÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð ô$D # ÐññÌññÌññÓ  ÓññññÓ“Óññòòò òññÓ  ÓññViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ ¸'#& ÐññÓ ÓññññÓK ÓÓÓññññÌññÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€A.,€a€Tunisian€citizen€born€in€1972,€currently€residingÏin€the€Netherlands,€where€he€is€seeking€asylum.€He€claims€that€his€forced€return€to€TunisiaÏwould€constitute€a€violation€by€the€Netherlands€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€againstÏTorture.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.€Ð @-(, Їñ ñò òñ ñòòFacts€as€presented€by€the€authorñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð ° ÐÌ2.1€Author€reports€that€he€has€had€problems€with€the€Tunisian€authorities€since€he€was€aÏstudent€because€he€used€to€criticize€the€Government€at€school.€Because€of€that€and€anÏargument€he€had€with€his€headmaster€about€a€private€issue€he€was€dismissed€from€school€inÏ1988.€In€July€1989€he€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_Ô€to€France€with€a€temporary€visa€and€worked€there€illegally.ÏHe€had€the€intention€to€study€in€France€but€after€eight€months€was€caught€and€sent€back€toÏTunisia.€Three€months€later€he€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_Ô€again€to€France€but€he€was€again€caught€13€daysÏafter€his€arrival€and€sent€back.€ÌÌ2.2€After€his€return€to€Tunisia€the€author€started€private€lessons€with€a€teacher€who€happenedÏto€be€a€prominent€member€of€the€illegal€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€movement€although€he€never€told€himÐ Ô$  Ðthat.€On€several€occasions€he€was€picked€up€by€the€police€and€held€for€a€few€days€duringÏwhich€he€was€interrogated€about€his€teacher€and€beaten.€At€a€certain€point€an€arrest€warrantÏwas€issued€against€the€teacher,€who€asked€the€author€for€help€in€leaving€the€country.€TheÏauthor€knew€the€border€region€well€because€his€family€came€from€that€part€of€the€country.ÏThat€is€why€he€was€able€to€help€the€teacher€cross€the€border.€In€May€1992€the€author€wasÏarrested.€For€two€weeks€he€was€beaten€daily€and€held€in€a€sort€of€chicken€coop€at€the€policeÏstation.€That€treatment€left€him€with€scars€on€his€back€and€three€broken€toes.€At€the€end€ofÏthose€two€weeks€he€was€sent€for€military€service€which€he€had€not€yet€performed€despiteÏhaving€been€called€up€in€1991.€As€a€punishment€he€was€sent€to€Ô_ÔGhafsaÔ_Ô,€an€army€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€in€theÏdesert,€where€he€was€again€subjected€to€ill„treatment,€such€as€being€kept€for€several€days€inÏan€underground€cell.€In€August€1992€he€managed€to€escape€and€left€the€country€immediatelyÏthrough€a€small€border€post.€ÌÌ2.3€The€author€stayed€in€Algeria€for€a€day€and€a€half€and€then€spent€a€month€and€a€half€inÏMorocco,€where€he€destroyed€his€passport.€He€then€went€to€Ô_ÔCeutaÔ_Ô€where€he€stayed€for€aÏmonth€and€a€half€and€to€the€Spanish€mainland,€where€he€stayed€until€December€1993.€ThenÏhe€went€to€Paris€where€he€stayed€until€March€1994.€All€these€stays€were€illegal.€He€arrivedÏin€the€Netherlands€on€21€March€1994€where€he€asked€for€asylum€and€stated€that€he€was€anÏIraqi€national.€On€20€September€1994,€during€an€interview€with€immigration€officials,€he€toldÏthem€that€his€name€was€A.€and€that€he€had€Algerian€nationality.€On€14€December€1995€theÏSecretary€of€Justice€rejected€his€refugee€claim€and€on€19€June€1996€his€appeal€was€turnedÏdown€by€the€President€of€the€Regional€Court€in€Amsterdam.€On€15€July€1996,€his€applicationÏfor€review€of€the€decision€of€14€December€1995€was€rejected.€On€17€January€1997,€hisÏappeal€against€the€rejection€was€dismissed€by€the€President€of€the€Regional€Court€inÏAmsterdam.€ÌÌ2.4€On€10€February€1997,€the€author€was€arrested€by€the€police€in€Haarlem€during€anÏinspection€of€the€company€where€he€worked.€This€time€he€informed€the€police€that€he€wasÏof€Tunisian€nationality,€but€refused€to€give€his€real€name€unless€he€was€given€assurances€thatÏhe€would€not€be€sent€back€to€Tunisia.€While€in€detention€he€filed€another€request€for€asylumÏthat€was€rejected€by€the€Secretary€of€Justice€on€28€February€1997.€On€5€March€1997€theÏauthor€appealed€this€decision€to€the€President€of€the€Regional€Court€in€Hertogenbosch.€TheÏappeal€was€turned€down€on€22€October€1997€and€the€expulsion€was€planned€for€25€OctoberÐ @-(, Ð1997.€ÌÌñ ñò òñ ñòòThe€complaintñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ3.1€Counsel€states€that€the€hearing€into€the€author's€claim€before€the€court€on€22€OctoberÏ1997€took€place€without€his€and€the€author's€presence€and€that€a€request€for€postponementÏawaiting€relevant€medical€evidence€which€would€only€be€available€on€23€October€wasÏrejected€by€the€court.€The€reason€for€the€haste€was€that€the€Tunisian€embassy€had€issued€aÏlaissez„passer€for€the€author€which€would€only€be€valid€for€a€few€days.€ÌÌ3.2€Counsel€provides€the€report€of€a€follow„up€interview€held€on€24€February€1997€betweenÏthe€author€and€the€Immigration€and€Naturalization€Department€in€which€the€authorÏacknowledged€that€his€real€name€was€not€A.€and€explained€that€he€would€only€reveal€his€realÏname€and€provide€proof€of€his€identity€if€he€was€given€assurances€that€he€would€not€be€sentÏback€to€Tunisia.€He€also€said€that€his€father€had€experienced€problems€when€he€tried€toÏobtain€an€extract€from€the€birth€register€after€his€departure.€He€was€questioned€by€officialsÏof€the€municipality€and€later€by€the€police€who€asked€him€for€the€author's€whereabouts.€ÌÌ3.3€Counsel€indicates€that€according€to€reports€by€Amnesty€International€there€is€a€consistentÏpattern€of€gross€human€rights€violations€in€Tunisia.€He€also€provides€copy€of€a€letter€sent€byÏthe€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees€on€4€March€1997€to€a€colleague€of€hisÏin€connection€with€the€asylum€request€of€another€Tunisian€in€which€the€following€is€stated:Ï"We€can€confirm€that€the€mere€fact€of€being€perceived€by€the€Tunisian€authorities€as€aÏmember€or€supporter€or€even€having€just€simple€contacts€with€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNadhaÔ_Ôóó€movement€couldÐ ä4 Ðlead€to€persecution.€Moreover,€we€are€in€fact€aware€that€some€individuals€have€beenÏinterrogated€and€even€harassed€by€the€Tunisian€police€on€the€mere€ground€of€having€receivedÏletters€from€Tunisians€abroad€who€are€considered€by€the€Tunisian€authorities€to€be€membersÏof€òòAl„Ô_ÔNadhaÔ_Ôóó.€Therefore,€claims€of€persecution€from€asylum€seekers€of€the€first€mentionedÐ ”ä Ðcategory€may€well€be€of€a€nature€that€would€entitle€them€to€be€recognized€as€refugees."€ÌÌ3.4€The€author€claims€that€if€he€is€returned€to€Tunisia€he€will€be€arrested€for€having€desertedÏand€that€his€desertion€would€be€construed€by€the€Tunisian€authorities€as€evidence€of€his€linksÏwith€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€movement.€In€view€of€his€experience€during€his€previous€detentions€heÐ 0"€  Ðbelieves€he€will€be€subjected€to€torture€again.€ÌÌÔ_Ôñ ñò òñ ñòòStateÔ_Ô€party's€observationsñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð ô$D # ÐÌ4.1€On€24€October€1997€the€Committee,€acting€through€its€Special€Rapporteur€for€newÏcommunications,€transmitted€the€communication€to€the€State€party€for€comments€andÏrequested€the€State€party€not€to€expel€or€deport€the€author€to€Tunisia€while€hisÏcommunication€was€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€ÌÌ4.2€In€a€submission€dated€23€December€1997€the€State€party€indicates€that€the€author€appliedÏfor€asylum€on€24€March€1994,€after€he€had€been€discovered€living€illegally€in€theÏNetherlands€under€the€name€of€Ô_ÔM.A.O.Ô_Ô,€born€in€Iraq.€Later€on,€he€declared€to€the€authoritiesÐ @-(, Ðthat€he€was€in€fact€an€Algerian€national€and€that€his€name€was€A.€His€application€wasÏrejected€by€decision€of€14€December€1995.€He€then€lodged€an€objection€against€this€decisionÏand€asked€the€President€of€the€District€Court€for€an€interim€injunction€to€prevent€hisÏexpulsion.€In€the€objection€he€claimed€to€have€Tunisian€nationality€and€to€live€in€fear€of€theÏTunisian€authorities.€The€application€for€an€interim€injunction€was€dismissed€on€19€JulyÏ1996€and€the€author's€objection€was€held€to€be€unfounded€by€decision€of€15€July€1996.€AnÏappeal€against€this€decision€was€declared€to€be€unfounded€by€judgement€of€17€January€1997.€ÌÌ4.3€On€10€February€1997€the€author€was€detained€following€a€check€for€illegal€Ô_ÔlabourÔ_Ô€in€aÏcompany€and€placed€in€custody€pending€expulsion.€On€12€February€1997€he€submitted€aÏsecond€application€for€asylum,€which€was€rejected€by€decision€of€28€February€1997.€ThisÏdecision€was€delivered€to€the€author€on€4€March€1997€and,€at€the€same€time,€he€was€notifiedÏthat€he€would€have€to€leave€the€Netherlands€immediately.€ÌÌ4.4€On€5€March€1997€the€author€lodged€an€objection€against€the€negative€decision€and€filedÏan€appeal€with€the€District€Court.€He€also€applied€to€the€President€of€the€District€Court€forÏan€interim€injunction€to€prevent€his€expulsion.€This€request€was€again€refused,€and€theÏobjection€and€appeal€were€again€declared€to€be€ill„founded.€Following€his€communicationÏto€the€Committee€and€the€Committee's€request€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€of€its€rules€ofÏprocedure€the€author€was€released€from€custody€on€11€November€1997€and€his€expulsionÏsuspended.€ÌÌ4.5€The€State€party€considers€that€the€author€has€exhausted€all€domestic€remedies€and,€notÏbeing€aware€of€any€other€grounds€for€inadmissibility,€has€no€objection€to€the€admissibilityÏof€the€communication.€ÌÌ4.6€As€for€the€merits€of€the€case,€the€State€party€argues€that€in€the€proceedings€that€followedÏhis€first€request€for€asylum€the€author€stated€that€he€had€previously€lied€about€his€nationalityÏand€that€he€was€Algerian.€He€explained€that€in€1989€he€had€fallen€in€love€with€the€daughterÏof€his€school's€headmaster.€The€latter€did€not€accept€the€liaison€and€in€the€course€of€anÏargument€the€author€destroyed€some€property.€As€a€result€he€was€detained€in€a€youthÏdetention€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€for€three€months.€After€his€release€he€went€to€France€but€the€FrenchÏauthorities€deported€him€in€1990.€ÌÌ4.7€The€author€stated€that€he€had€been€called€up€for€military€service€in€1992€but€failed€toÏcomply€because€of€a€lung€condition.€As€a€result€he€was€arrested€in€1993.€His€request€forÏexemption€on€medical€grounds€was€denied.€Three€months€later€he€deserted€and€stayed€withÏa€friend€until€he€left€for€Italy€on€23€November€1993.€He€stayed€in€Italy€for€two€and€a€halfÏmonths€before€Ô_ÔtravellingÔ_Ô€by€train€to€the€Netherlands.€ÌÌ4.8€In€the€additional€grounds€accompanying€the€objection€of€4€April€1996€the€author€statedÏthat€he€in€fact€came€from€Tunisia€where€he€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€problems€with€the€authorities€becauseÏof€his€ties€with€a€teacher€who€was€a€fundamentalist€and€a€supporter€of€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€party.Ð h+¸&* ÐHe€claimed€that€he€had€been€arrested,€questioned€and€beaten€on€several€occasions€andÏaccused€of€disseminating€fundamentalist€pamphlets.€Ð @-(, Ї4.9€In€the€autumn€of€1992,€after€having€helped€the€teacher€to€escape€to€Algeria,€he€wasÏarrested€and€questioned€for€nine€days€concerning€the€latter's€whereabouts.€He€also€stated€thatÏhe€had€been€ill„treated:€his€feet€were€beaten€with€a€stick,€breaking€three€of€his€toes,€and€heÏremained€confined€in€a€chicken€coop.€When€he€reported€back€one€month€after€his€release€heÏwas€informed€that€he€would€be€prosecuted€and€brought€to€trial.€ÌÌ4.10€He€also€stated€that€he€had€heard€from€his€father€that€friends€in€similar€circumstances€hadÏbeen€sentenced€to€three€years€of€imprisonment€and€that€he€himself€had€been€sentenced€to€15Ïmonths€for€desertion.€The€author€expects€to€be€punished€for€his€desertion€when€he€returnsÏto€his€country.€ÌÌ4.11€The€State€party€argues€that€the€general€situation€in€Tunisia€is€not€such€that€asylumÏseekers€from€that€country€can€automatically€be€regarded€as€refugees€and€that€the€authorÏshould€be€able€to€argue€plausibly€that€certain€facts€and€circumstances€exist€that€objectivelyÏjustify€his€fear€of€persecution€within€the€meaning€of€the€law€relating€to€refugees.€ÌÌ4.12€The€author's€individual€account€is€above€all€implausible.€He€has€made€conflictingÏstatements€on€a€number€of€points,€including€his€nationality,€the€reasons€for€his€journey€to€theÏNetherlands,€the€route€by€which€he€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_Ô€there€and€his€arrests€in€Tunisia.€Furthermore,Ïduring€the€preparations€for€his€expulsion€to€Tunisia€it€was€established€on€the€basis€ofÏfingerprints€that€he€is€known€to€the€Tunisian€authorities€under€the€name€of€M.€TheÏinconsistencies€in€the€author's€statements€are€of€a€substantive€nature€and€indeed€raise€doubtsÏabout€the€general€veracity€of€his€claims.€ÌÌ4.13€The€author€has€at€no€time€been€politically€active,€nor€has€he€put€himself€in€the€publicÏeye€as€such€in€any€other€way.€During€the€proceedings€he€stated€that€he€had€no€contact€withÏthe€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€party.€He€had€problems€solely€because€he€had€contacts€with€a€teacher€who€wasÐ ¨ø Ða€member€and€had€helped€him€to€flee€the€country.€Even€if€it€is€true€that€the€author€did€helpÏthat€person,€he€has€not€convincingly€shown€that€he€experienced€problems€with€the€TunisianÏauthorities€as€a€result€and€that€he€was€held€in€detention€for€nine€days.€Nor€has€the€authorÏargued€convincingly€that€he€is€to€be€prosecuted€and€brought€to€trial.€Even€if€this€were€true,Ïthe€fact€that€the€author€was€merely€told€to€report€back€a€month€after€his€release€certainly€doesÏnot€suggest€that€the€Tunisian€authorities€consider€him€as€a€serious€opponent.€ÌÌ4.14€The€author€has€also€argued€that€he€had€been€found€guilty€of€desertion.€The€State€partyÏdoes€not€consider€this€plausible,€because€it€is€based€solely€on€a€statement€made€by€theÏauthor's€father€and€is€not€supported€by€any€documentary€proof.€The€State€party€does€notÏbelieve,€in€any€case,€that€he€deserted€on€the€basis€of€any€political€or€religious€conviction.€ItÏis€not€plausible€that€the€author€would€experience€problems€upon€returning€to€his€countryÏbecause€of€his€desertion,€since€he€cannot€be€regarded€as€a€dissident.€It€has€not€beenÏconvincingly€argued€that€any€punishment€imposed€for€refusal€to€perform€military€service€willÏbe€disproportionately€severe€or€that€the€author€will€be€subjected€to€discriminatory€persecutionÏinstead€of€an€ordinary€punishment.€ÌÌ4.15€The€State€party€contends€that€whenever€an€asylum€seeker€states€that€he€has€been€ill„Ð @-(, Ðtreated€or€tortured€the€Immigration€and€Naturalization€Service€asks€the€Medical€AssessmentÏSection€of€the€Ministry€of€Justice€to€give€an€opinion.€The€doctors€attached€to€this€section€canÏeither€examine€the€person€concerned€themselves€or€seek€the€opinion€of€a€medical€practitionerÏwho€has€treated€him.€Given€the€limited€capacity€of€this€section,€however,€asylum€cases€areÏonly€submitted€to€it€for€assessment€when€there€are€good€reasons€to€subject€the€individualÏconcerned€to€further€examination€in€the€interest€of€assessing€his€or€her€request€for€asylum.ÏAside€from€this,€the€individual€concerned€or€his€legal€representative€can€always€consult€aÏmedical€practitioner€independently.€The€latter€can€then€supply€a€medical€certificate€statingÏthat€certain€scars€could€have€been€caused€by€the€alleged€ill„treatment€for€use€in€theÏproceedings€and€the€assessment€of€the€request€for€asylum.€ÌÌ4.16€In€the€present€case€the€author€did€not€indicate€that€he€had€psychological€problems€untilÏa€letter€of€17€October€1997,€i.e.€three€and€a€half€years€after€his€arrival€in€the€Netherlands.ÏDuring€the€proceedings€concerning€his€first€asylum€request€he€never€mentioned€having€hadÏtraumatic€experiences.€ÌÌ4.17€In€connection€with€the€author's€alleged€medical€problems,€the€State€party€observes€thatÏhe€has€not€submitted€a€single€medical€document.€His€claims€about€certain€scars€were€tooÏinsubstantial€to€prompt€a€medical€examination.€Even€if€it€is€assumed€that€the€author€is€indeedÏexperiencing€psychological€problems,€the€Aliens€Advisory€Office€held,€in€its€report€on€thisÏcase€dated€23€October€1997,€that,€given€the€available€information€on€the€opportunities€forÏobtaining€psychiatric€treatment€in€Tunisia,€there€is€no€need€for€the€author€to€remain€in€theÏNetherlands€for€the€purpose€of€receiving€psychiatric€treatment.€ÌÌ4.18€The€State€party€further€contends€that,€according€to€sources€such€as€AmnestyÏInternational€and€the€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô,€supporters€of€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€party€risk€being€subjected€toÐ ¼  Ðtorture€or€inhuman€treatment€in€Tunisian€prisons.€For€this€reason€it€exercises€particular€careÏin€decisions€on€requests€for€asylum€received€by€members€of€this€group.€It€has€beenÏestablished,€however,€that€the€author€is€not€a€supporter€of€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€party.€Moreover,€heÐ €Ð Ðhas€failed€to€make€a€convincing€case€for€his€assertion€that€because€of€his€ties€with€supportersÏof€this€party€he€risks€being€tortured€in€prison.€In€any€case,€the€author€has€failed€to€argueÏplausibly€that€on€the€basis€of€his€ethnic€background,€his€alleged€political€affiliation€and€hisÏhistory€of€detention€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return.€TheÏState€party€is€therefore€of€the€opinion€that€the€communication€is€ill„founded.€ÌÌñ ñò òñ ñòòCounsel's€commentsñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð ô$D # ÐÌ5.1€In€his€comments€on€the€observations€made€by€the€State€party,€counsel€points€out€that€theÏState€party€did€not€include€in€its€submission€to€the€Committee€the€information€provided€byÏthe€author€in€his€follow„up€interview€with€the€immigration€authorities€where€heÏacknowledged€having€lied€about€his€identity€and€nationality€and€explained€his€reasons€forÏhaving€done€so.€The€inconsistencies€referred€to€by€the€State€party€were€explained€in€thatÏinterview,€a€report€of€which€has€been€provided€to€the€Committee.€Counsel€also€refers€toÏprevious€jurisprudence€in€which€the€Committee€noted€that€some€of€the€author's€claims€andÏcorroborating€evidence€had€been€submitted€only€after€the€refugee€claim€had€been€refused€byÐ @-(, Ðthe€refugee€board€and€deportation€procedures€had€been€initiated€and€concluded€that€thisÏÔ_ÔbehaviourÔ_Ô€was€not€uncommon€among€victims€of€torture.€ÌÌ5.2€With€respect€to€the€different€statements€about€his€nationality,€the€author€explained€thatÏduring€his€first€interviews€he€was€too€afraid€to€immediately€give€his€correct€country€of€originÏand€name€in€view€of€the€fact€that€Tunisia€is€a€popular€tourist€destination€and€for€that€reasonÏTunisians€are€not€granted€asylum€in€Europe.€In€any€case€the€Tunisian€Embassy€has€confirmedÏthat€the€author€is€indeed€a€Tunisian€citizen.€ÌÌ5.3€Counsel€also€contends€that€the€court€tried€the€author's€case€in€great€haste€in€order€not€toÏallow€a€laissez„passer€issued€by€the€Tunisian€Embassy€for€a€few€days€to€expire.€As€a€resultÏthe€author€and€his€counsel€had€no€possibility€to€provide€the€court€with€useful€information€inÏsupport€of€the€author's€claim.€ÌÌ5.4€Counsel€stresses€that€the€author€was€tortured€and€kept€for€15€days€(not€9€as€indicated€inÏthe€State€party's€submission)€in€a€chicken€coop€(a€wooden€cage€especially€designed€to€lockÏpeople€up)€at€police€headquarters€at€Ô_ÔKafÔ_Ô.€The€State€party€barely€mentions€the€fact€that€his€toesÏwere€broken€and€he€has€scars€on€his€back€as€a€result€of€torture.€The€author€could€haveÏprovided€many€details€about€the€places€in€which€he€was€held€and€those€details€could€haveÏbeen€verified€by€the€Dutch€authorities,€for€example€the€fact€that€soldiers€sent€to€Ô_ÔGhafsaÔ_Ô€areÏmainly€those€considered€to€be€opponents€of€the€Government€and€that€they€are€treatedÏcompletely€differently€from€soldiers€in€any€other€barracks.€The€report€on€the€follow„upÏinterview€shows,€however,€that€the€authorities€never€asked€for€such€details€and€that€thoseÏprovided€by€the€author€were€ignored,€as€were€the€report€of€Amnesty€International€and€theÏletter€from€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€referred€to€above.€Counsel€further€argues€that€in€the€period€1990„1992Ïthe€author's€sister€was€arrested,€convicted€and€held€in€prison€for€six€months€because€she€wasÏopenly€Ô_ÔsympathisingÔ_Ô€with€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ5.5€With€respect€to€the€medical€issues,€counsel€argues€against€the€State€party's€assertion€thatÏthe€author€did€not€submit€a€single€medical€document.€The€authorities€had€received€a€letterÏ(copy€of€which€is€provided€to€the€Committee)€dated€20€October€1997€from€a€social€workerÏwho€has€been€in€close€contact€with€the€author€since€1995€and€reports€serious€mental€andÏphysical€difficulties€as€a€result€of€torture€and€the€fear€of€being€sent€back€to€Tunisia.€The€letterÏindicates€that€the€author€suffered€from€sleeping€disorders.€Periods€of€sleeplessness€alternatedÏwith€periods€of€troubled€sleep€during€which€he€had€recurrent€nightmares€in€which€he€wasÏarrested€and€relived€his€experiences€of€being€maltreated.€He€also€went€through€periods€ofÏdepression€and€lived€in€constant€fear€of€having€to€return€to€Tunisia€and€being€arrested€andÏtortured€again.€His€physical€condition€during€the€day€was€characterized€by€continuous€tensionÏwhich€led€to€headaches,€stomach€aches€and€back€complaints.€He€also€had€respiratoryÏdifficulties€caused€by€a€medical€disorder€of€the€lungs.€According€to€the€social€worker€theÏauthor€had€told€him€that€he€had€been€tortured€following€his€contacts€with€a€politically€activeÏmember€of€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€party.€This€fact€together€with€his€desertion€from€the€army€wereÐ |*Ì%) Ðconsidered€offences€by€the€Tunisian€authorities.€The€author€also€described€to€the€socialÏworker€the€kind€of€treatment€to€which€he€had€been€subjected€and€showed€him€the€scars€onÏhis€back.€In€his€view,€the€fact€that€the€author€first€gave€two€other€identities€was€the€result€ofÐ @-(, Ðlack€of€trust€in€the€authorities€and€his€fear€of€not€being€taken€seriously.€The€social€workerÏalso€stated€that€in€view€of€his€health€problems€he€had€referred€the€author€to€a€Ô_ÔRiaggÔ_Ô€physicianÏfrom€whom€he€had€not€received€much€assistance.€In€the€counsel's€view€that€letter€shows€thatÏthe€State€party€is€wrong€when€it€suggests€that€the€claim€of€serious€psychological€problemsÏwas€used€mainly€in€order€to€prolong€the€asylum€procedure.€ÌÌ5.6€Counsel€also€finds€it€surprising€that€the€medical€investigation€carried€out€by€the€BureauÏÔ_ÔVreemdelingenÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAdviseringÔ_Ô€dated€23€October€1997€was€merely€limited€to€establishing€thatÏthere€are€facilities€for€psychiatric€help€in€Tunisia,€and€that€the€statements€of€the€author€aboutÏthe€torture,€the€scars€he€bears€and€the€traumas€he€has€indicated€were€not€even€considered.ÏThis,€along€with€the€letter€from€the€social€worker,€should€have€prompted€a€more€thoroughÏexamination.€ÌÌ5.7€Counsel€also€provides€copy€of€a€medical€report€dated€23€October€1997€made€by€theÏpsychiatrist€who€examined€the€author€at€the€aliens€detention€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€"De€Ô_ÔGeniepoortÔ_Ô"€in€whichÏit€is€indicated€that€the€author€presents€a€suspicious€attitude€which€might€possibly€result€fromÏa€psychiatric€disorder.€It€is€also€indicated€that,€because€of€that€attitude€and€the€incompleteÏinformation€concerning€his€prior€history,€a€diagnosis€cannot€be€made€with€certainty€but€aÏschizophrenic€development€cannot€be€excluded.€Further€examination€is€required.€ÌÌñ ñò òñ ñòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð  p ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÏTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÏCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€theÏConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€anotherÏprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€also€notes€that€allÏdomestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted€and€finds€that€no€further€obstacles€to€theÏadmissibility€of€the€communication€exist.€Since€both€the€State€party€and€the€author's€counselÏhave€provided€observations€on€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€Committee€proceedsÏwith€the€consideration€of€those€merits.€ÌÌ6.2€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€author€to€TunisiaÏwould€violate€the€obligation€of€the€Netherlands€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€not€to€expelÏor€to€return€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€thatÏhe€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€ÌÌ6.3€The€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€paragraph€1€of€article€3,€whether€there€areÏsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÏtorture€upon€return€to€Tunisia.€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€intoÏaccount€all€relevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€paragraph€2€of€article€3,€including€theÏexistence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€TheÏaim€of€the€determination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€wouldÏbe€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€wouldÏreturn.€The€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€humanÐ @-(, Ðrights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€aÏparticular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€thatÏcountry;€specific€grounds€must€exist€indicating€that€the€individual€concerned€would€beÏpersonally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€humanÏrights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedÏto€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€ÌÌ6.4€Reports€from€reliable€sources€have€over€the€years€documented€cases€suggesting€that€aÏpattern€of€detention,€imprisonment,€torture€and€ill„treatment€of€persons€accused€of€politicalÏopposition€activities,€including€links€with€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€movement,€exist€in€Tunisia.€Ð ü L  ÐÌ6.5€The€Committee€notes€that€in€the€proceedings€that€followed€his€first€request€for€asylumÏthe€author€lied€about€his€identity€and€his€nationality€and€expressed€a€number€ofÏinconsistencies€as€to€the€reasons€that€prompted€his€departure€from€Tunisia.€In€theÏCommittee's€view,€however,€these€inconsistencies€were€clarified€by€the€explanations€givenÏby€the€author€in€his€interview€with€immigration€authorities€on€24€February€1997,Ïexplanations€which€have€not€been€referred€to€in€the€State€party's€submission.€ÌÌ6.6€With€respect€to€the€medical€evidence€provided€by€the€author,€in€the€Committee's€viewÏthe€State€party€has€failed€to€explain€why€his€claims€were€considered€insufficiently€substantialÏas€to€warrant€a€medical€examination.€ÌÌ6.7€The€author€has€repeatedly€stated€that€he€is€not€a€supporter€of€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€movement.Ð øH ÐThis€fact€leads€the€State€party€to€conclude€that€the€Tunisian€authorities€would€not€haveÏinterest€in€him.€The€Committee€notes,€however,€that€the€State€party€does€not€dispute€that€theÏauthor€was€tortured€while€held€in€police€custody€as€a€result€of€assisting€an€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€memberÐ ¼  Ðto€flee€to€Algeria€and€emphasizes€the€fact€that€it€occurred€because€of€the€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_ÔóóÐ ¨ø Ðassociation.€It€also€notes€that€the€author€escaped€from€the€barracks€where€he€was€performingÏmilitary€service.€If€the€author€was€tortured€in€the€past€despite€not€being€an€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_ÔóóÐ €Ð Ðsupporter,€he€could€be€tortured€again€in€view€of€his€past€history€of€detention,€his€assistanceÏof€an€òòAl„Ô_ÔNahdaÔ_Ôóó€member€to€flee€to€Algeria€and€his€desertion€from€the€military€barracks€inÐ X ¨ ÐÔ_ÔGhafsaÔ_Ô.€ÌÌ6.8€In€the€circumstances,€the€Committee€considers€that€substantial€grounds€exist€for€believingÏthat€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Tunisia.€ÌÌ7.€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that,€in€the€prevailingÏcircumstances,€the€State€party€has€an€obligation,€in€accordance€with€article€3€of€theÏConvention,€to€refrain€from€forcibly€returning€the€author€to€Tunisia€or€to€any€other€countryÏwhere€he€runs€a€real€risk€of€being€expelled€or€returned€to€Tunisia.€ÌÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.]€ÌññÓÜ Óññ