’WPC™ ׎‡Ēńr˜!=[“}“-Ž£³©Ę(YŹŽLĢ;$?ydLmĖχ_"ü^±‘ņN>”tĮ„]E\MÅ›Ą„!•ęŃ «WŽß§Š>¼Ÿ 2­)ä „p÷¾õ‹¦‚_oŚ?2Ļ¢›sĘ…ā„ŒÉŃŲqT>µÜ1Õå8\kaŻā}WĖÕ-Ł™†°ś4#/ŽDŸyį$° l_̳“8l5ńM¤ĒTlN†’Ĝ&8ż=*³tß3 Wō?C‘0¼Õļ6&š!¤õĪP5¼ūf#FĆčPž˜B»×ż;ū~VßcČ­2Ė‹óL2v²‰‘ÉĢŠÜ®E”5BąķBD2¶D¦ō'÷Ræ&uį‹”vū‰RFŚĘ’åõ3,™Ö²%'ĄÖ3@;oØ×«ū«¼…ōÄ(éż»jačÖ䙞%Ī'éZĒg ^tŸrnjšŚ'ū Ō†ģ6Q(ÄĪzźeWų8…ŠߦVÕ{AāK&×z·™|jrgėoEü7~f<Ł/5¾I:ĶŻ,S±ŸĄ«w˜Ÿŗ„„ßµĄŌą`“Ś ;A xYPqFoą¾XäĄsÉ÷*˜×} 'a3`Ą¼KE²Ģš 0µ¼ 0<q 0Y­ 0_ 0ieĘĪ 0є 0(e D+ AMø ø ø ø ø  0N 0¶c #Į UNŚ %(M.(2NZ^ \wh4l€ m‚ō\  `‹&Times New Roman' Kaveh Yaragh Tala v. Sweden, Committee against Torture, Communication, No. 43/1996, U.N. D4, No. 43/1996, U.N. D"Angie Dituri"0Angie Dituri .   6F , ’’4Heading 3Ō S ŌÓ p^SÓŌ€£££Ōņ ņŌ  ŌŌ  ŌŌ€XXXŌó óÓ p^SÓ<’’:Default Para6’’4HyperlinkóóņņŌ ’ ŌóóŌ  Ō<’’:FollowedHypeóóņņŌ  ŌóóŌ  Ō< ’’:Normal (Web)Ō S ŌÓ =jSÓÓ =jSӁ Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(©2nÉ$££Ż ƒ&¼!ŻŅܰŅŅܰŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€Xc^XXXŌŌ€Xc^XXXc^ŌŻ  Ż(’’$’’'dxd A<< c’’#|x(ĶO$——Ō’ŌņņóóŌ’Ō(Ž&¼$””ŅܰŅŅܰŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€X¬žXXXŌŌ€X¬žXXX¬žԘHP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ČhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularXš³ś* Äpģ*rtyBarŻ£ ’U‹’ĄĄĄŻ ƒ&¼!ŻŅܰŅŅܰŅŌ..ŌŌ  ŌŌ  ŌÓ  ÓŌ€Xc^XXXŌŌ€Xc^XXXc^ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREŠ ° ŠĢņņTala€v.€SwedenóóŠ |Ģ ŠĢCommunication€No.€43/1996*Š H˜ ŠĢ15€November€1996Š  d ŠĢCAT/C/17/D/43/1996Š ą 0 ŠĢĢVIEWSó óŠ ’ā  ŠĢĢņņņņSubmitted€byóó:€Mr.€Ō_ŌKavehŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌYaraghŌ_Ō€Tala€[represented€by€counsel]Š D”  ŠĢņņAlleged€victimóó:€The€authorŠ ` ŠĢņņState€partyóó:€SwedenŠ Ü, ŠĢņņDate€of€communicationóó:€7€March€1996€(initial€submission)€óóŠ Øų ŠĢĢņņÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstŠ ZŖ ŠTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Š @ ŠĢņņMeetingóó€on€15€November€1996,Š  \ ŠĢņņHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€43/1996,€submitted€to€theŠ Ų( ŠCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherŠ ¾ ŠCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Š ¤ō ŠĢņņHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theŠ p!Ą  Šcommunication,€his€counsel€and€the€State€party,Š V"¦! ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€the€following:Š "$r# ŠĢĢÓÓņņÓ  Óņ ņViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóó€Š Ō&$"& ŠÓ5ÓÓÓĢĢ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Mr.€Ō_ŌKavehŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌYaraghŌ_Ō€Tala,€an€Iranian€citizen€born€onŠ †)Ö$) Š18€August€1969,€currently€residing€in€Sweden.€He€claims€that€his€return€to€Iran€wouldŠ l*¼%* Šconstitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€by€Sweden.€He€isŠ R+¢&+ Šrepresented€by€counsel.Š 8,ˆ', ŠŠ -n(- ŠņņFacts€as€presented€by€the€authoróóŠ ° ŠĢ2.1€The€author€states€that€he€became€politically€aware€in€the€summer€of€1985,€and€throughŠ |Ģ Ša€friend€of€the€family€started€to€become€involved€with€the€People's€Ō_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō€OrganizationŠ b² Šof€Iran.€He€took€part€in€activities€like€painting€slogans€and€distributing€leaflets€late€at€nights.Š H˜ ŠFrom€September€1986€on,€he€also€acted€as€a€contact€between€the€friend€and€two€armyŠ . ~ Šofficers.€At€the€end€of€1986,€he€began€listening€to€Ō_ŌPMOIŌ_Ō€broadcasts€in€order€to€write€downŠ  d Šmessages€to€certain€codes€and€to€hand€them€to€a€contact€person.Š ś J ŠĢ2.2€In€February€1987,€the€author€was€forced€to€do€his€military€service.€He€was€assigned€toŠ Ę   Šthe€maintenance€section€of€the€Revolutionary€Guards€headquarters.€After€some€time€heŠ ¬ ü  Šbegan€to€deliver€information€like€transport€routes€for€ammunition€and€armaments,€locationŠ ’ā  Šof€ammunition€and€underground€Ō_ŌstoragesŌ_Ō,€etcetera,€to€the€Ō_ŌPMOIŌ_Ō.€The€author€also€stole€andŠ xČ  Šdelivered€to€the€Ō_ŌPMOIŌ_Ō€some€20€blank€passes,€with€which€vehicles€could€move€around€freelyŠ ^®  Šwithout€being€checked€at€check€points.Š D”  ŠĢ2.3€In€March€1989,€the€author€was€stopped€when€leaving€the€quarters€and€found€with€twoŠ ` Šblank€passes€on€him.€He€was€arrested,€beaten€and€kicked,€and€brought€to€the€undergroundŠ öF Šprison€No.€59€of€the€security€service€of€the€Revolutionary€Guards.€There€he€stayed€for€threeŠ Ü, Šand€a€half€months,€during€which€period€he€was€interrogated€about€25€times.€During€eachŠ Ā Šinterrogation€he€was€maltreated€and€tortured.€During€the€last€interrogation,€he€was€told€toŠ Øų Šlie€down€on€his€stomach€and€then€felt€a€hot€metal€object€against€his€thighs€before€he€passedŠ ŽŽ Šout.€When€his€wounds€became€infected,€he€was€brought€to€Ō_ŌKhatamŌ_Ō„al„Ō_ŌanbiaŌ_Ō€hospital,€whereŠ tÄ Šhe€stayed€under€guard€for€four€weeks.Š ZŖ ŠĢ2.4€After€being€released€from€hospital€he€was€moved€to€prison€No.€66€of€the€RevolutionaryŠ &v ŠGuards.€There€he€managed€to€get€a€message€out€to€his€parents€and€on€11€August€1989€he€wasŠ  \ Šreleased€awaiting€trial.€Apparently,€his€father€had€bribed€the€man€in€charge€into€acceptingŠ ņB Šthe€registration€papers€of€the€family€house€as€bail;€the€author€adds€that€normally€politicalŠ Ų( Šprisoners€are€not€released€on€bail.€The€author€had€to€report€at€the€prison€every€third€day.Š ¾ ŠĢ2.5€After€about€a€week,€he€received€a€message€from€his€contact€in€Ō_ŌPMOIŌ_Ō€which€heŠ Š Ś Šinterpreted€as€a€warning.€He€went€into€hiding€in€Ō_ŌShirazŌ_Ō€and€later€in€Ō_ŌBoosherŌ_Ō.€After€about€sixŠ p!Ą  Šmonths€he€contacted€his€brother„in„law€through€a€friend€and€learned€that€he€was€wanted€byŠ V"¦! Šthe€Revolutionary€Guards,€that€they€had€searched€the€family€house€and€arrested€his€parentsŠ <#Œ" Šfor€questioning.€Apparently,€the€Revolutionary€Guards€also€found€some€secret€material€thatŠ "$r# Šthe€author€had€hidden,€and€arrested€his€contact€man.€The€author€then€decided€to€leave€theŠ %X $ Šcountry,€contacted€a€smuggler,€and,€at€the€end€of€June€1990,€left€from€Bandar€Abbas€by€boatŠ ī%>!% Što€Ō_ŌDubaiŌ_Ō€and€from€there€by€plane€to€Stockholm,€via€Amsterdam€and€Copenhagen.Š Ō&$"& ŠĢ3.1€The€author€arrived€in€Sweden€on€7€July€1990€and€requested€asylum.€He€was€brieflyŠ  (š#( Šinterrogated€by€the€police.€On€3€September€1990,€the€author€was€again€interrogated€by€theŠ †)Ö$) Špolice,€at€which€occasion€he€told€them€about€his€activities€for€the€Ō_ŌPMOIŌ_Ō,€but€not€about€theŠ l*¼%* Štorture€and€maltreatment,€and€the€circumstances€of€his€release.€On€26€November€1990,€theŠ R+¢&+ ŠImmigration€Board€decided€to€refuse€the€author's€application€for€asylum€and€ordered€hisŠ 8,ˆ', Šexpulsion€from€Sweden,€because€of€the€contradictions€in€his€statements.Š -n(- Ї3.2€During€the€appeal,€the€author€applied€to€the€Government€for€a€change€of€counsel,Š ° Šbecause€of€unsatisfactory€cooperation.€This€was€granted€on€19€March€1991.€According€toŠ –ę Šthe€author,€the€new€counsel€was€the€first€one€who€really€listened€to€him.€In€his€plea,€he€givesŠ |Ģ Šthe€true€story€of€the€author,€including€the€torture,€and€he€presented€a€doctor's€certificate.Š b² ŠNevertheless,€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€rejected€the€author's€appeal€on€3€July€1992.€TheŠ H˜ ŠBoard€acknowledged€that€the€author€had€now€given€a€full€and€consistent€description€of€hisŠ . ~ Špolitical€activities,€detention€and€torture,€but€considered€that€he€lacked€credibility,€since€heŠ  d Šchanged€his€story€regarding€his€route€to€Sweden,€the€passport€used€and€his€arrest€and€militaryŠ ś J Šservice.Š ą 0 ŠĢ3.3€The€author's€new€application€to€the€Immigration€Board,€explaining€how€theŠ ¬ ü  Šcontradictions€had€resulted€from€misunderstandings€with€his€first€counsel,€and€submittingŠ ’ā  Ša€new€medical€certificate,€was€rejected€on€1€October€1992,€since€the€Board€considered€thatŠ xČ  Šhe€had€not€invoked€any€new€circumstances.Š ^®  ŠĢ3.4€On€10€August€1995,€the€author€submitted€a€new€application€to€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board.Š *z  ŠNew€evidence€was€presented,€such€as€a€certificate€from€Ō_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō€Sweden€that€the€authorŠ ` Šhad€been€a€Ō_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō€activist€and€medical€evidence€from€the€Ō_ŌCentreŌ_Ō€for€Torture€and€TraumaŠ öF ŠSurvivors€in€Stockholm,€testifying€that€the€scars€and€marks€on€the€author's€body€are€inŠ Ü, Šconformity€with€his€allegations€of€torture,€and€that€the€author€suffers€from€Post€TraumaticŠ Ā ŠStress€Disorder.€The€Aliens€Appeal€Board€rejected€the€application€on€25€August€1995,Š Øų Šreasoning€that€the€author€had€to€a€large€extent€invoked€circumstances€that€already€had€beenŠ ŽŽ Šconsidered.€The€Board€pointed€out€inconsistencies€in€the€author's€explanations€on€how€theŠ tÄ Šinjuries€from€torture€had€been€caused.€According€to€the€Board,€the€author's€scars€and€marksŠ ZŖ Šdid€not€show€that€the€author€had€been€tortured€in€prison.€With€this€decision,€counsel€argues,Š @ Šall€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted.Š &v ŠĢņņThe€complaintóóŠ ņB ŠĢ4.1€The€author's€counsel€argues€that,€given€the€absolute€prohibition€to€expel€a€person€to€aŠ ¾ Šcountry€where€he€risks€to€be€subjected€to€torture,€and€given€that,€if€the€author's€story€is€true,Š ¤ō Šhe€will€without€doubt€be€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return,€he€should€only€be€returned€toŠ Š Ś ŠIran€if€it€is€beyond€reasonable€doubt€that€the€author's€claim€is€false.€In€this€context,€counselŠ p!Ą  Šexplains€that€the€Swedish€authorities€expect€an€applicant€to€give€the€full€story€of€his€claimŠ V"¦! Šthe€day€he€arrives€in€Sweden.€Counsel€states€that€this€demand€is€not€justified€for€persons€whoŠ <#Œ" Šflee€persecution,€who€for€years€have€been€living€in€a€climate€of€distrust.€Asylum€seekers,Š "$r# Šcounsel€states,€behave€initially€in€an€irrational€and€inadequate€way,€do€not€trust€anybody€andŠ %X $ Šare€only€ready€to€tell€their€true€and€complete€story€after€having€been€in€the€country€for€someŠ ī%>!% Štime.€Counsel€considers€therefore€absurd€the€Government's€opinion€that€since€the€person€hasŠ Ō&$"& Šhad€his€chance€at€the€beginning,€whatever€he€invokes€later€on€is€not€trustworthy,€and€arguesŠ ŗ' #' Šthat€in€some€cases€new€statements€have€to€be€accepted€as€trustworthy€in€spite€of€the€fact€thatŠ  (š#( Šthe€story€has€been€incoherent,€inconsistent€and€contradictory€in€the€beginning.Š †)Ö$) ŠĢ4.2€In€the€instant€case,€counsel€acknowledges€that€inconsistencies€in€the€author's€story€exist.Š R+¢&+ ŠNevertheless,€she€points€out€that€in€his€very€first€interview€with€the€police€he€already€gaveŠ 8,ˆ', Šthe€core€of€his€story,€namely€that€he€was€afraid€of€being€arrested€by€the€RevolutionaryŠ -n(- ŠGuards€because€he€had€cooperated€with€persons€suspected€to€be€opponents.€Since€his€firstŠ ° Šcounsel€did€not€gain€the€author's€confidence,€the€inconsistencies€continued.€Only€later,€theŠ –ę Šauthor€understood€he€should€tell€the€complete€story,€and€he€was€able€to€do€so€once€he€foundŠ |Ģ Šcounsel€in€whom€he€could€trust.Š b² ŠĢ4.3€Counsel€recalls€that€the€medical€findings€confirm€the€author's€story€that€he€has€beenŠ . ~ Štortured,€but€that€the€Appeal€Board,€although€not€denying€the€existence€of€the€scars,Š  d Šconcluded€that€they€were€not€caused€by€torture€in€prison.€Counsel€points€out€that€the€author'sŠ ś J Šinjuries€are€not€of€the€kind€that€one€could€receive€in€an€accident,€and€is€at€a€loss€as€to€howŠ ą 0 Šthe€Appeal€Board€thinks€they€have€been€inflicted.€Counsel€acknowledges€that,€without€aŠ Ę   Šcredible€eyewitness€or€a€video€recording€of€the€torture,€it€is€impossible€to€establish€with€fullŠ ¬ ü  Šcertainty€that€scars€and€marks€on€a€person's€body€are€indeed€a€result€of€torture,€but€arguesŠ ’ā  Šthat€the€judgment€thereof€should€be€entrusted€to€medical€experts,€not€to€persons€who€haveŠ xČ  Šno€qualifications€to€judge€medical€findings.Š ^®  ŠĢ4.4€The€author€claims€that€a€real€risk€exists€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€torture€or€that€hisŠ *z  Šsecurity€would€be€endangered€if€he€were€to€be€returned€to€his€country.€He€recalls€that€he€hasŠ ` Šbeen€working€for€the€Ō_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō,€the€opposition€group€most€hated€and€feared€in€Iran.Š öF ŠAccording€to€reports€the€mere€possession€of€a€Ō_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō€leaflet€is€sufficient€reason€forŠ Ü, Šarrest€and€persecution.€From€1987€to€1989€he€has€been€leaking€classified€information€to€theŠ Ā ŠŌ_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō.€Although€the€authorities€suspected€this,€they€did€not€have€enough€proof€at€theŠ Øų Štime€they€detained€him.€However,€by€the€time€he€left€the€country,€the€Revolutionary€GuardsŠ ŽŽ Šhad€searched€his€home€and€found€all€the€proof€they€wanted.€If€the€author€is€forcibly€returnedŠ tÄ Što€Iran€without€passport,€he€will€be€arrested€to€establish€his€identity€and€to€check€his€record.Š ZŖ ŠThen€his€political€background€will€be€revealed€and€his€life€will€be€in€danger.Š @ ŠĢ4.5€In€this€context,€the€author€claims€that€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€and€massive€violationsŠ  \ Šof€human€rights€exists€in€Iran,€which€according€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€ConventionŠ ņB Šshould€be€taken€into€account€by€a€State€party€when€deciding€on€expulsion.€The€author€refersŠ Ų( Što€reports€by€the€UN€Special€Representative€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€whichŠ ¾ Šattest€to€a€continuing€violation€of€all€basic€human€rights.Š ¤ō ŠĢņņState€party's€submission€and€counsel's€commentsóóŠ p!Ą  ŠĢ5.1€By€submission€of€30€May€1996,€the€State€party€informs€the€Committee€that,€followingŠ <#Œ" Šits€request€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€the€National€Immigration€Board€has€decided€to€stayŠ "$r# Šthe€expulsion€order€against€the€author.Š %X $ ŠĢ5.2€As€regards€the€domestic€procedure,€the€State€party€explains€that€the€basic€provisionsŠ Ō&$"& Šconcerning€the€right€of€aliens€to€enter€and€to€remain€in€Sweden€are€found€in€the€1989€AliensŠ ŗ' #' ŠAct.€For€the€determination€of€refugee€status€there€are€normally€two€instances,€the€SwedishŠ  (š#( ŠImmigration€Board€and€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board.€In€exceptional€cases,€an€application€isŠ †)Ö$) Šreferred€to€the€Government€by€either€of€the€two€boards.€Chapter€8,€section€1,€of€the€ActŠ l*¼%* Šcorresponds€with€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€states€that€an€alien,€who€hasŠ R+¢&+ Šbeen€refused€entry€or€who€shall€be€expelled,€may€never€be€sent€to€a€country€where€there€isŠ 8,ˆ', Šfirm€reason€to€believe€that€he€or€she€would€be€in€danger€of€suffering€capital€or€corporalŠ -n(- Špunishment€or€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€nor€to€a€country€where€he€is€not€protected€fromŠ ° Šbeing€sent€on€to€a€country€where€he€would€be€in€such€danger.€Further,€under€chapter€2,Š –ę Šsection€5,€subsection€3,€of€the€Act,€an€alien,€who€is€to€be€refused€entry€or€expelled,€can€applyŠ |Ģ Šfor€a€residence€permit€if€the€application€is€based€on€circumstances€which€have€not€previouslyŠ b² Šbeen€examined€in€the€case€and€if€either€the€alien€is€entitled€to€asylum€in€Sweden€or€if€it€willŠ H˜ Šotherwise€be€in€conflict€with€humanitarian€requirements€to€enforce€the€decision€on€refusalŠ . ~ Šof€entry€or€expulsion.€Š  d ŠĢ5.3€As€to€the€facts€of€the€instant€case,€the€State€party€explains€that€the€author€arrived€inŠ ą 0 ŠSweden€on€7€July€1990€and€applied€for€asylum€when€interrogated€by€the€police.€He€had€noŠ Ę   Špassport€and€his€identity€was€unclear.€He€stated€that€he€had€not€been€politically€active€butŠ ¬ ü  Šthat€he€had€carried€out€propaganda€for€the€royalists€when€fulfilling€his€military€service.€HeŠ ’ā  Šalso€said€that€he€had€Ō_ŌtravelledŌ_Ō€from€Iran€through€Turkey€to€Sweden.€The€day€after€his€arrival,Š xČ  Ša€letter€was€found€at€the€airport€addressed€to€the€author€at€a€Swiss€address,€containing€a€falseŠ ^®  ŠSpanish€passport€with€the€author's€photograph€in€it.€When€questioned,€the€author€stated€thatŠ D”  Šit€could€have€been€the€passport€used€for€him€by€the€person€who€helped€him€to€get€toŠ *z  ŠStockholm.€The€person€and€he€were€allegedly€separated€at€the€airport€in€Copenhagen.€NoŠ ` Šfurther€explanations€were€given€by€the€author€about€the€Swiss€address.Š öF ŠĢ5.4€Since€then,€the€State€party€submits,€the€author's€invoked€grounds€for€political€asylumŠ Ā Šhave€changed€considerably.€The€State€party€submits€that€his€statements€at€different€pointsŠ Øų Šin€time€have€been€inconsistent€and€contradictory.€Furthermore,€it€was€not€until€his€appealŠ ŽŽ Šthat€he€made€any€statements€regarding€having€been€tortured.€The€State€party€emphasizes€thatŠ tÄ Šall€interrogations€took€place€with€an€interpreter€in€the€author's€own€mother€tongue.Š ZŖ ŠĢ6.€The€State€party€argues€that€the€communication€is€inadmissible€for€being€incompatible€withŠ &v Šthe€provisions€of€the€Convention.€It€also€contends€that€an€argument€can€be€made€thatŠ  \ Šdomestic€remedies€have€only€been€exhausted€once€the€expulsion€order€has€been€carried€out.Š ņB ŠĢ7.1€As€to€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€Committee'sŠ ¾ Šjurisprudence€in€the€case€of€Ō_ŌMutomboŌ_Ō€v.€Switzerland€€1/€€and€the€criteria€established€by€theŠ ¤ō ŠCommittee,€first,€that€a€person€must€personally€be€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€and,Š Š Ś Šsecond,€that€such€torture€must€be€a€necessary€and€foreseeable€consequence€of€the€return€ofŠ p!Ą  Šthe€person€to€his€or€her€country.Š V"¦! ŠĢ7.2€The€State€party€refers€to€its€own€legislation€which€reflects€the€same€principle€as€that€ofŠ "$r# Šarticle€3€of€the€Convention.€The€State€party's€authorities€thus€apply€the€same€test€as€theŠ %X $ ŠCommittee€in€deciding€on€the€return€of€a€person€to€his€or€her€country.€The€State€party€recallsŠ ī%>!% Šthat€the€mere€possibility€that€a€person€be€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€country€of€originŠ Ō&$"& Šdoes€not€suffice€to€prohibit€his€or€her€return€as€being€incompatible€with€article€3€of€theŠ ŗ' #' ŠConvention.Š  (š#( ŠĢ7.3€The€State€party€is€aware€that€Iran€is€reported€to€be€a€major€violator€of€human€rights€andŠ l*¼%* Šthat€there€is€no€indication€of€improvement.€It€leaves€it€for€the€Committee€to€determineŠ R+¢&+ Šwhether€the€situation€in€Iran€amounts€to€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massŠ 8,ˆ', Šviolations€of€human€rights.Š -n(- Ї7.4€As€regards€its€assessment€whether€or€not€the€author€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€beingŠ ° Šsubjected€to€torture€when€returned€to€Iran,€the€State€party€relies€on€the€evaluation€of€the€factsŠ –ę Šand€evidence€made€by€its€immigration€board€and€the€appeals€board.€The€NationalŠ |Ģ ŠImmigration€Board,€in€its€decision€of€26€November€1990,€found€that€the€elements€providedŠ b² Šby€the€author€were€inconsistent€and€therefore€not€trustworthy.€The€Aliens€Appeal€Board,€onŠ H˜ Š3€July€1992,€also€found€that€the€circumstances€invoked€by€the€author€at€the€appeal€were€notŠ . ~ Štrustworthy.€It€noted€that€the€author€had€changed€his€story€several€times€and€that€he€now€forŠ  d Šthe€first€time€alleged€that€he€had€been€tortured.€Š ś J ŠĢ7.5€On€11€August€1995,€the€author€filed€an€additional€new€application€with€the€AliensŠ Ę   ŠAppeal€Board.€In€support€he€invoked€a€certificate€from€Ō_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō's€SympathizersŠ ¬ ü  ŠAssociation€(Ō_ŌMSAŌ_Ō),€a€copy€of€an€alleged€notice€obliging€him€to€report€and€an€examinationŠ ’ā  Šreport€by€the€Center€for€Tortured€and€Ō_ŌTraumatisedŌ_Ō€(CTD).€At€the€hearing,€the€author€statedŠ xČ  Šthat€he€ceased€to€cooperate€with€the€Ō_ŌMSAŌ_Ō€because€it€had€collaborators€in€its€Ō_ŌorganisationŌ_Ō.Š ^®  ŠThe€Appeal€Board,€after€having€made€an€overall€assessment€of€the€author's€statements,€foundŠ D”  Šthat€he€was€not€trustworthy€in€his€claim€for€a€right€to€asylum.€Š *z  ŠĢ7.6€As€regards€the€medical€evidence,€the€Board€noted€that€the€author€had€given€contradictoryŠ öF Šstatements€as€to€how€the€injuries€were€caused,€whether€by€a€hot€metal€object€or€by€a€gasŠ Ü, Šburner,€whether€by€a€key€or€a€knife.€The€Board€concluded€that€"against€the€background€thatŠ Ā ŠŌ_ŌYaraghŌ_Ō€Tala€on€several€occasions€has€given€very€detailed€and€exhaustive€statementsŠ Øų Šregarding€the€torture€he€claims€to€have€been€exposed€to,€the€contradictory€statements€may,Š ŽŽ Šin€the€board's€opinion,€indicate€that€the€injuries€have€been€caused€in€another€way€than€he€hasŠ tÄ Šstated.€Although€the€injuries€per€se€are€documented,€they€do€not€in€the€Board's€opinion€showŠ ZŖ Šthat€Ō_ŌYaraghŌ_Ō€Tala€has€been€tortured€when€in€detention."Š @ ŠĢ7.7€The€State€party€submits€that€on€the€basis€of€the€above€mentioned€decisions,€it€hasŠ  \ Šconcluded€that€the€author€is€of€no€interest€to€the€military€or€police€authorities€in€Iran€and€thatŠ ņB Šthe€facts€he€has€invoked€do€not€substantiate€his€assertion€that€he€has€been€exposed€to€tortureŠ Ų( Šand€that€he€risks€torture€upon€his€return€to€Iran.Š ¾ ŠĢ7.8€The€State€party€concludes€that,€in€the€circumstances€of€the€present€case,€the€author'sŠ Š Ś Šreturn€to€Iran€would€not€have€the€foreseeable€and€necessary€consequence€of€exposing€himŠ p!Ą  Što€a€real€risk€or€torture.€An€enforcement€of€the€expulsion€order€against€the€author€wouldŠ V"¦! Štherefore€not€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.Š <#Œ" ŠŌ_ŌĢ8.1€In€her€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission,€counsel€for€the€author€takes€issue€withŠ %X $ Šthe€State€party's€suggestion€that€domestic€remedies€are€not€exhausted€until€the€author€hasŠ ī%>!% Šactually€been€deported.€she€states€that€it€would€then€be€too€late€to€seek€any€effective€remedy.Š Ō&$"& ŠShe€further€argues€that€the€elements€provided€by€the€author€make€his€communicationŠ ŗ' #' Šcompatible€with€the€provisions€of€the€Convention.Š  (š#( ŠĢ8.2€Counsel€points€out€that€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€apparently€had€some€hesitations€as€toŠ l*¼%* Šthe€author's€political€background€and€requested€the€Swedish€embassy€in€Teheran€to€verifyŠ R+¢&+ Šthe€facts€as€presented€by€the€author,€including€the€sketches€he€had€made€of€the€RevolutionaryŠ 8,ˆ', ŠGuards'€headquarters.€In€its€reply,€the€embassy€refused€to€judge€the€personal€trustworthinessŠ -n(- Šof€the€author€but€confirmed€that€it€might€well€be€possible€to€bribe€oneself€out€of€prison€evenŠ ° Šin€political€cases.€Counsel€argues€where€the€Appeals€Board€had€real€doubts€about€theŠ –ę Šauthor's€expulsion,€he€should€have€benefitted€from€these,€especially€since€at€the€appeal€heŠ |Ģ Šhad€presented€a€credible,€consistent,€detailed€and€thorough€description€of€his€asylum€claim.Š b² ŠIt€is€argued€that€the€authorities€have€used€the€untrue€statements€given€by€the€author€in€theŠ H˜ Šbeginning€to€completely€disqualify€him€for€asylum€in€Sweden€regardless€of€what€he€laterŠ . ~ Špresented,€contrary€to€UNHCR's€handbook€article€199,€which€states€that€untrue€statementsŠ  d Šby€themselves€are€not€a€reason€for€refusal€of€refugee€status,€and€that€it€is€the€examiner'sŠ ś J Šresponsibility€to€evaluate€such€statements€in€the€light€of€all€the€circumstances€of€the€case.Š ą 0 ŠĢ8.3€Counsel€further€refers€to€article€198€of€the€Handbook,€that€persons€who€have€beenŠ ¬ ü  Špersecuted€may€be€afraid€to€give€a€full€account€to€the€authorities.€Counsel€acknowledges€thatŠ ’ā  Šthe€author's€case€depends€completely€on€his€credibility.€He€gave€untrue€statements€and€hisŠ xČ  Šstatements€were€also€contradictory€and€inconsistent.€She€states€that€only€the€human€andŠ ^®  Špsychological€factor€might€explain€his€conduct.€"A€man€fleeing€from€a€cruel€and€relentlessŠ D”  Šregime€against€which€he€has€been€fighting€and€which€had€subjected€him€to€cruel€tortureŠ *z  Šcannot€be€expected€to€behave€in€a€rational€way€once€he€has€managed€to€escape€from€hisŠ ` Štormentors.€It€will€take€time€for€him€to€collect€himself€enough€to€understand€that€he€isŠ öF Šspoiling€his€right€for€protection€and€that€he€must€come€up€with€his€complete€and€true€story."Š Ü, ŠĢ8.4€Counsel€contends€that€in€spite€of€the€initial€doubts€regarding€the€author's€trustworthiness,Š Øų Šhe€has€thereafter€presented€a€credible,€consistent,€thorough€and€detailed€description.Š ŽŽ ŠConsidering€his€history€of€torture€and€persecution,€counsel€argues€that€his€initial€failure€isŠ tÄ Šexplainable€and€excusable.Š ZŖ ŠĢ8.5€Counsel€concludes€that€the€return€of€the€author€to€Iran€would€have€the€foreseeable€andŠ &v Šnecessary€consequence€of€exposing€him€to€a€real€risk€of€being€detained€and€tortured.Š  \ ŠĢņņIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Ō_ŌCommitteeóóŠ Ų( ŠĢ9.€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstŠ ¤ō ŠTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheŠ Š Ś ŠCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5(a),€of€theŠ p!Ą  ŠConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€anotherŠ V"¦! Šprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€is€further€of€theŠ <#Œ" Šopinion€that€all€domestic€remedies€available€to€the€author€have€been€exhausted.€TheŠ "$r# ŠCommittee€finds€that€no€further€obstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€existŠ %X $ Šand€proceeds€with€the€consideration€of€the€merits€of€the€communication.Š ī%>!% ŠĢ10.1€The€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€paragraph€1€of€article€3,€whether€there€areŠ ŗ' #' Šsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€Mr.€Tala€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subject€to€tortureŠ  (š#( Šupon€return€to€Iran.€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€allŠ †)Ö$) Šrelevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€paragraph€2€of€article€3,€including€the€existence€of€aŠ l*¼%* Šconsistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€theŠ R+¢&+ Šdetermination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€beŠ 8,ˆ', Šņņpersonallyóó€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€wouldŠ -n(- Šreturn.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massŠ ° Šviolations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€forŠ –ę Šdetermining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€uponŠ |Ģ Šhis€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€exist€to€show€that€the€individualŠ b² Šconcerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€grossŠ H˜ Šviolations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€dangerŠ . ~ Šof€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.Š  d ŠĢ10.2€The€Committee€has€noted€the€State€party's€assertion€that€its€authorities€apply€practicallyŠ ą 0 Šthe€same€test€as€prescribed€by€article€3€of€the€Convention€when€determining€whether€or€notŠ Ę   Ša€person€can€be€deported.€The€Committee,€however,€notes€that€the€text€of€the€decisions€takenŠ ¬ ü  Šby€the€Immigration€Board€(26€November€1990)€and€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€(3€July€1992Š ’ā  Šand€25€August€1995)€in€the€author's€case€does€not€show€that€the€test€as€required€by€articleŠ xČ  Š3€of€the€Convention€(and€as€reflected€in€chapter€8,€section€1,€of€the€1989€Aliens€Act)€was€ņņinŠ ^®  Šfactóó€applied€to€the€author's€case.Š D”  ŠĢ10.3€In€the€instant€case,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€author's€political€affiliation€withŠ ` Šthe€People's€Ō_ŌMujahedinŌ_Ō€Organization€and€activities,€his€history€of€detention€and€torture,Š öF Šshould€be€taken€into€account€when€determining€whether€he€would€be€in€danger€of€beingŠ Ü, Šsubjected€to€torture€upon€his€return.€The€State€party€has€pointed€to€contradictions€andŠ Ā Šinconsistencies€in€the€author's€story,€but€the€Committee€considers€that€complete€accuracy€isŠ Øų Šseldom€to€be€expected€by€victims€of€torture€and€that€the€inconsistencies€as€exist€in€theŠ ŽŽ Šauthor's€presentation€of€the€facts€do€not€raise€doubts€about€the€general€veracity€of€his€claims,Š tÄ Šespecially€since€it€has€been€demonstrated€that€the€author€suffers€from€Post€Traumatic€StressŠ ZŖ ŠDisorder.€Further,€the€Committee€has€noted€from€the€medical€evidence€that€the€scars€on€theŠ @ Šauthor's€thighs€could€only€have€been€caused€by€a€burn€and€that€this€burn€could€only€haveŠ &v Šbeen€inflicted€intentionally€by€another€person€than€the€author€himself.Š  \ ŠĢ10.4€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€serious€human€rights€situation€in€Iran,€as€reported€ņņinterŠ Ų( Šaliaóó€to€the€United€Nations€Commission€on€Human€Rights€by€the€Commission's€SpecialŠ ¾ ŠRepresentative€on€the€situation€of€human€rights€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran.€TheŠ ¤ō ŠCommittee€notes€the€concern€expressed€by€the€Commission,€in€particular€in€respect€of€theŠ Š Ś Šhigh€number€of€executions,€instances€of€torture€and€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatmentŠ p!Ą  Šor€punishment.€Š V"¦! ŠĢ10.5€In€the€circumstances,€the€Committee€considers€that€substantial€grounds€exist€forŠ "$r# Šbelieving€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Iran.€Š %X $ ŠĢ11.€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that,€in€the€prevailingŠ Ō&$"& Šcircumstances,€the€State€party€has€an€obligation€to€refrain€from€forcibly€returning€Mr.€Ō_ŌKavehŌ_ŌŠ ŗ' #' ŠŌ_ŌYaraghŌ_Ō€Tala€to€Iran,€or€to€any€other€country€where€he€runs€a€real€risk€of€being€expelled€orŠ  (š#( Šreturned€to€Iran.Š †)Ö$) ŠĢ[Adopted€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€originalŠ R+¢&+ Šversion.]Š 8,ˆ', ŠŠ -n(- ЇņņFootnotesóóŠ ° ŠĢ*/€€€Made€public€by€decision€of€the€Committee€against€Torture.Š |Ģ ŠĢ1/€€€Communication€No.€13/1993,€Views€adopted€on€27€April€1994.Š H˜ ŠÓ¦Ó