ÿWPC  „ƒåYøÉŒóF@Üú)bicø2²à¦­L½Ñ N•ÇÍ7è )Á±a•`ßT^‚ 0<>¶ ÄéÞ–7„Æ4ì@?ÞQ¤ú¦Èß÷ ¹}¼N§ˆüýÀõŽºsàÔF… ÙH>çÍ$W7¾Pl/ЭŠu/²MÆDÙ9úTÈËa¶ÄÔWk€ÅøØQѲl#ϾG2‹ ç‰|Ý€€(EéÈ1½Çñ%ÉïÿêL7‚!ƒO$[iöª\‹ åw›opqì„ÎÚû +I¤ò¢ã&f·Ï2$qFrÁ5s’|Ý%Á@i ”nx´Ô]˜Ã(#æ zò[››Óæí6iÏMËZ ^r€Ó=D T%·ý>ü9o_O Ù°$‘‰É&6"µóù`×í 1¼ª”~@{÷¦Iqš¿§ð¹úâ#îWpEF¿TÉ„[,mÚ€s87?7;(]ž œQwÓ䙸vÉÍ!\µTYHCŒ‚ÔÞ“|)·æëÌ/ëæñ›œ€BÌ€ 0nL 0iº 0Y# 0_| 0&ÛU6  7 0ÆG #Á UNÎ % M" (& NN ^ P w\ 4` t mv 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¥^$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XuLXX XÔÔ€XuLXX XuLÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 6P/6MP - Standard,ä,,,,,ä0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular XFµú* Äpì*ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ ¥^!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ X€XX XÔÔ€X€XX X€ÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔAyasÔ_Ô€Ô_Ôv.Ô_Ô€SwedenóóÐ |Ì ÐÌCommunication€No€97/1997Ð H˜ ÐÌ12€November€1998Ð  d ÐÌCAT/C/21/D/97/1997Ð à 0 ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ ’â  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Ô_ÔOrhanÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAyasÔ_Ô€[represented€by€counsel]€Ð D”  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð ` ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Sweden€Ð Ü, ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€12€November€1997óó€Ð ¨ø ÐÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ Zª ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð @ ÐÌòòMeetingóó€on€12€November€1998,€Ð  \ ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€97/1997,€submitted€to€theÐ Ø( ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÐ ¾ ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð ¤ô ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ p!À  Ðcommunication,€her€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð V"¦! ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð "$r# ÐÌÌÓDÓòòò òÓ  ÓViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóÐ Ô&$"& ÐÓgÓÓÓÌÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Mr.€Ô_ÔOrhanÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔAyasÔ_Ô,€a€Turkish€citizen€born€in€1973,Ð †)Ö$) Ðcurrently€residing€in€Sweden€where€he€is€seeking€asylum.€He€claims€that€his€forced€returnÐ l*¼%* Ðto€Turkey€would€constitute€a€violation€by€Sweden€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€againstÐ R+¢&+ ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€He€is€representedÐ 8,ˆ', Ðby€counsel.€Ð -n(- ЇòòFacts€as€presented€by€the€authoróó€Ð ° ÐÌ2.1€The€author€is€a€Kurd€born€and€raised€in€Midyat,€south„east€Turkey.€His€family€has€beenÐ |Ì Ðknown€to€the€Turkish€authorities€for€a€long€time€because€several€family€members€and€friendsÐ b² Ðhave€been€involved€in€the€activities€of€the€PKK€(Partya€Karkeren€Kurdistan,€KurdistanÐ H˜ ÐWorkers€Party).€They€also€owned€two€cafes€which€were€meeting€places€for€PKKÐ . ~ Ðsympathizers.€As€a€result,€members€of€the€family€have€frequently€been€subjected€to€arrestÐ  d Ðand€interrogation.€The€frequency€as€well€as€the€gravity€of€the€intimidation€increased€in€theÐ ú J Ðlate€1980s,€after€one€of€the€author's€brothers€fled€the€country€because€of€his€politicalÐ à 0 Ðactivities.€In€1991,€when€the€author€was€18,€he€was€arrested€three€times€by€the€militaryÐ Æ   Ðpolice€and€interrogated,€òòinter€aliaóó,€about€his€brother's€activities€abroad.€On€these€occasions,Ð ¬ ü  Ðthe€author€states€that€he€was€blindfolded€and€subjected€to€different€methods€of€torture€suchÐ ’â  Ðas€beatings,€being€hung€by€his€arms,€hit€on€the€soles€of€the€feet,€hosed€with€high„pressure€iceÐ xÈ  Ðcold€water€and€deprived€of€food.€He€also€says€that€he€still€has€scars€from€this€treatment.€InÐ ^®  Ð1991€he€left€Midyat€and€went€to€Antalya,€where€he€shared€an€appartment€with€four€membersÐ D”  Ðof€the€PKK.€Ð *z  ÐÌ2.2€In€July€1992€he€was€arrested€by€the€police,€together€with€some€Kurdish€friends,€and€keptÐ öF Ðin€detention€for€two€days€during€which€he€was€interrogated€about€his€activities€in€AntalyaÐ Ü, Ðand€beaten.€He€was€also€pushed€down€stairs€as€a€result€of€which€he€injured€one€of€his€eyes.Ð Â ÐIn€August€1992€he€participated€in€the€organization€of€a€non„authorized€Kurdish€festival.€TwoÐ ¨ø Ðof€the€organizers€were€arrested€and€subsequently€sentenced€to€prison€terms.€As€the€policeÐ ŽÞ Ðwere€looking€for€him,€the€author€fled€to€Istanbul€where€he€went€into€hiding€until€he€managedÐ tÄ Ðto€leave€the€country.€Ð Zª ÐÌ2.3€The€author€arrived€in€Sweden€in€February€1993€and€applied€for€asylum.€On€28€MarchÐ &v Ð1994€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€rejected€the€application€on€the€grounds€that€theÐ  \ Ðinformation€submitted€lacked€credibility.€The€Board€gave€the€following€reasons€for€itsÐ òB Ðassessment:€(a)€The€author€had€destroyed€his€passport€and€refused€to€reveal€in€what€nameÐ Ø( Ðand€for€what€nationality€it€had€been€issued;€(b)€he€had€not€left€Turkey€immediately€after€theÐ ¾ Ðevent€that€he€claimed€had€led€to€his€flight;€(c)€he€had€failed€to€make€a€convincing€case€thatÐ ¤ô Ðthe€authorities€were€interested€in€him,€since€he€had€stated€that€he€was€not€himself€politicallyÐ Š Ú Ðactive.€Ð p!À  ÐÌ2.4€The€author€appealed€to€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€claiming€that€he€was€afraid€that€theÐ <#Œ" Ðpersons€who€had€assisted€him€to€flee€could€be€in€trouble€if€he€revealed€any€information€aboutÐ "$r# Ðthe€passport.€For€that€reason€he€had€decided€to€follow€their€instructions€and€destroyed€it.€HeÐ %X $ Ðreiterated€that€immediately€after€the€arrest€of€his€two€friends€he€had€gone€into€hiding€untilÐ î%>!% Ðhis€family€could€arrange€for€his€flight€from€Turkey.€He€also€stated€that€in€September€1993Ð Ô&$"& Ðone€of€his€brothers€was€arrested€and€sentenced€to€15€years'€imprisonment€for€his€activitiesÐ º' #' Ðwith€the€PKK.€The€author€was€informed€by€his€family€that,€in€that€context,€the€police€hadÐ  (ð#( Ðsearched€for€him€at€his€home€in€Midyat€and€beaten€his€father€and€younger€brother.€In€supportÐ †)Ö$) Ðof€his€claim€the€author€submitted€a€newspaper€article€regarding€the€incident€in€which€hisÐ l*¼%* Ðbrother€was€arrested.€He€also€submitted€a€transcript€of€a€court€hearing€concerning€the€friendsÐ R+¢&+ Ðwho€had€been€arrested€during€the€festival.€Ð 8,ˆ', ÐÐ -n(- Ð2.5€On€2€January€1995€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€rejected€the€appeal€for€lack€of€credibility,Ð ° Ðin€view€of€the€fact€that€the€author€had€waited€two€days€before€he€applied€for€asylum€and€thatÐ –æ Ðhe€destroyed€the€passport€with€which€he€had€arrived€in€Sweden.€Moreover,€the€Board€statedÐ |Ì Ðthat€the€transcript€of€the€court€hearing€did€not€confirm€that€the€author€had€been€politicallyÐ b² Ðactive.€Ð H˜ ÐÌ2.6€The€author€submitted€a€new€application€in€which€he€disclosed,€for€the€first€time,€that€heÐ  d Ðhimself€had€actively€supported€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€He€explained€that€his€relatives€had€strongly€advisedÐ ú J Ðhim€not€to€reveal€any€connection€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€because€of€the€risk€of€being€considered€aÐ à 0 Ð"terrorist"€by€the€Swedish€authorities.€The€author€also€submitted€the€verdict€of€a€militaryÐ Æ   Ðcourt€which€showed€that€in€1993€he€had€been€sentenced€in€absentia€to€five€years'Ð ¬ ü  Ðimprisonment€for€his€activities€and€affiliation€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€He€had€been€sent€the€verdictÐ ’â  Ðby€his€father€in€Turkey.€On€7€March€1995€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board€rejected€the€newÐ xÈ  Ðapplication.€The€Board€found€that€the€author's€explanation€of€why€he€had€not€revealed€hisÐ ^®  Ðaffiliation€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€at€an€earlier€stage€was€not€credible€and€questioned€the€authenticityÐ D”  Ðof€the€verdict€of€the€military€court.€Ð *z  ÐÌ2.7€The€author€filed€a€second€new€application€in€which€he€requested€that€the€Board€clarifyÐ öF Ðits€grounds€for€challenging€the€authenticity€of€the€verdict.€This€application€was€also€turnedÐ Ü, Ðdown.€The€Board€pointed€out€that€military€tribunals€no€longer€handled€that€type€of€case€inÐ Â ÐTurkey€and€noted€that€the€stamps€on€the€document€were€inconsistent€with€Turkish€law.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ2.8€The€author€changed€counsel€and€filed€a€third€new€application€based€on€the€medicalÐ tÄ Ðexaminations€performed€by€a€psychiatrist€and€a€forensic€expert€from€the€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€for€TortureÐ Zª Ðand€Trauma€Survivors€(CTD)€at€the€Ô_ÔKarolinskaÔ_Ô€University€Hospital€in€Stockholm.€TheÐ @ Ðmedical€reports€indicated,€òòinter€aliaóó,€that€the€author€suffers€from€post„traumatic€stressÐ &v Ðsyndrome€which€can€be€attributed€to€his€having€been€tortured€and€that€the€claim€of€tortureÐ  \ Ðappeared€to€be€entirely€credible.€The€author€also€submitted€a€transcript€of€the€Security€CourtÐ òB Ðdecision€in€which€his€brother€was€sentenced€to€15€years'€imprisonment€for€his€connectionsÐ Ø( Ðwith€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€One€of€the€accused€before€the€court€disclosed€that€the€author,€who€wasÐ ¾ Ðmentioned€by€name,€had€participated€in€an€unlawful€fund„raising€transaction€for€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.Ð ¤ô ÐThe€author€also€pointed€out€that€the€verdict€of€the€military€court€had€been€handed€down€inÐ Š Ú Ð1993,€at€a€time€when€the€military€courts€were€still€competent€in€such€cases.€This€newÐ p!À  Ðapplication€was€rejected€on€1€September€1997€on€the€grounds€that€the€author€lackedÐ V"¦! Ðcredibility.€As€for€the€medical€evidence,€the€Board€considered€it€insufficient€to€conclude€thatÐ <#Œ" Ðthe€author's€injuries€had€been€caused€by€torture.€Ð "$r# ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ3.1€The€author's€counsel€argues€that€the€Swedish€authorities€have€based€their€decisions€notÐ º' #' Ðto€grant€asylum€on€their€assessment€that€the€author€lacks€credibility;€however,€they€haveÐ  (ð#( Ðoverlooked€the€factors€explaining€his€behaviour€and€attitude.€For€instance,€he€was€only€20Ð †)Ö$) Ðyears€old€when€he€arrived€in€Sweden.€Prior€to€his€arrival€he€had€lived€a€long€time€underÐ l*¼%* Ðsevere€stress€and€had€a€well„founded€fear€of€persecution.€In€this€context,€he€was€instructedÐ R+¢&+ Ðby€the€persons€who€assisted€him€to€flee€to€destroy€the€passport€with€which€he€arrived€and€notÐ 8,ˆ', Ðto€reveal€the€name€on€the€passport.€It€could€not€be€expected€that,€at€this€point,€he€would€beÐ -n(- Ðin€a€position€to€understand€the€weight€the€Swedish€authorities€would€attach€to€theseÐ ° Ðcircumstances.€He€applied€for€asylum€on€the€second€day€after€his€arrival,€which€can€hardlyÐ –æ Ðbe€considered€a€significant€delay.€His€relatives€strongly€advised€him€not€to€reveal€anyÐ |Ì Ðpersonal€link€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€because€of€the€risk€of€being€considered€a€terrorist€by€the€SwedishÐ b² Ðauthorities.€During€the€initial€interview€the€author€explained€the€basic€elements€that€hadÐ H˜ Ðprovoked€his€flight€to€Sweden.€These€are€not€inconsistent€with€his€subsequent€amendments.€Ð . ~ ÐÌ3.2€Contrary€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€the€Swedish€authorities€have€notÐ ú J Ðtaken€into€account€all€relevant€circumstances€in€their€assessment€of€a€future€risk€of€torture.Ð à 0 ÐThey€have,€moreover,€attached€unreasonable€weight€to€circumstances€which€they€considerÐ Æ   Ðreduce€the€credibility€of€the€author's€story€as€opposed€to€the€substantial€grounds€submittedÐ ¬ ü  Ðin€support€of€his€claim.€The€circumstances€in€the€case,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistentÐ ’â  Ðpattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€in€Turkey€and€the€fact€that€the€author€is€a€victimÐ xÈ  Ðof€torture,€clearly€show€that€his€return€to€Turkey€would€expose€him€to€a€particular€risk€ofÐ ^®  Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€again.€Ð D”  ÐÌòòState€party's€observationsóó€Ð ` ÐÌ4.1€On€26€November€1997€the€Committee,€acting€through€its€Special€Rapporteur€for€newÐ Ü, Ðcommunications,€transmitted€the€communication€to€the€State€party€for€comments€andÐ Â Ðrequested€the€State€party€not€to€expel€the€author€to€Turkey€while€his€communication€is€underÐ ¨ø Ðconsideration€by€the€Committee.€In€its€submission€to€the€Committee€the€State€party€indicatesÐ ŽÞ Ðthat,€following€the€Committee's€request,€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€decided€to€stay€theÐ tÄ Ðenforcement€of€the€expulsion€order€until€further€notice,€pending€the€Committee's€finalÐ Zª Ðdecision€on€the€matter.€Ð @ ÐÌ4.2€With€respect€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€submits€that,€inÐ  \ Ðaccordance€with€the€Aliens€Act,€a€new€request€for€a€residence€permit€may€be€lodged€withÐ òB Ðthe€Aliens€Appeals€Board€at€any€time,€provided€that€new€circumstances€likely€to€call€for€aÐ Ø( Ðdifferent€decision€are€raised.€Moreover,€on€the€basis€of€its€arguments€on€the€merits,€the€StateÐ ¾ Ðparty€maintains€that€the€communication€is€incompatible€with€the€provisions€of€theÐ ¤ô ÐConvention€and€should€therefore€be€considered€inadmissible.€Ð Š Ú ÐÌ4.3€As€for€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€State€party€contends€that,€in€determiningÐ V"¦! Ðwhether€the€forced€return€of€the€author€would€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€theÐ <#Œ" ÐConvention,€the€following€issues€should€be€examined:€(a)€The€general€situation€of€humanÐ "$r# Ðrights€in€Turkey;€(b)€the€author's€personal€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€Turkey;€andÐ %X $ Ð(c)€the€foreseeable€and€necessary€consequences€of€his€return€to€Turkey.€Ð î%>!% ÐÌ4.4€With€respect€to€the€general€situation€of€human€rights€in€Turkey€the€State€party€submits,Ð º' #' Ðas€a€well„known€fact,€that€arbitrary€arrests,€demolition€of€villages€and€torture€are€used€in€theÐ  (ð#( Ðfight€against€the€Kurdish€separatists.€In€its€view,€however,€the€situation€is€not€so€serious€thatÐ †)Ö$) Ðit€constitutes€a€general€obstacle€to€the€deportation€of€Turkish€citizens€of€Kurdish€origin.€AÐ l*¼%* Ðlarge€part€of€the€Turkish€population€consists€of€persons€of€Kurdish€origin.€While€many€ofÐ R+¢&+ Ðthem€live€in€the€south„east€they€are€presently€scattered€all€over€the€country€where€they€areÐ 8,ˆ', Ðcompletely€integrated€into€Turkish€society€in€general.€If€an€expulsion€order€is€carried€outÐ -n(- Ðwith€respect€to€a€Turkish€citizen€of€Kurdish€origin,€he€or€she€will€not€be€deported€fromÐ ° ÐSweden€to€the€Kurdish€areas€against€his€or€her€will,€but€to€Istanbul€or€Ankara.€Ð –æ ÐÌ4.5€The€Swedish€authorities€have€clearly€found€no€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€theÐ b² Ðauthor€would€be€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€Turkey.€They€haveÐ H˜ Ðnot€considered€that€the€information€about€the€author's€political€activities€and€torture€isÐ . ~ Ðcredible.€Indeed,€there€are€a€number€of€elements€in€the€author's€story€which€give€rise€toÐ  d Ðdoubts.€In€the€initial€investigation,€following€the€first€request€for€asylum,€the€author€clearlyÐ ú J Ðstated€that€neither€he€nor€his€family€had€been€engaged€in€political€activities.€He€alsoÐ à 0 Ðinformed€the€authorities€concerned€that€he€did€not€leave€Turkey€immediately€after€the€eventÐ Æ   Ðthat€led€to€his€flight€from€the€country€and€that€he€had€no€documents€on€entry€because€he€hadÐ ¬ ü  Ðdestroyed€them€after€his€arrival€in€Sweden.€Owing€to€these€circumstances,€the€immigrationÐ ’â  Ðauthorities€concluded€that€he€had€not€made€it€credible€that€he€was€of€interest€to€the€TurkishÐ xÈ  Ðauthorities.€Ð ^®  ÐÌ4.6€In€a€new€submission€the€author€claimed€that€he€had€been€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€engagedÐ *z  Ðin€political€activities.€This€new€claim,€however,€was€not€considered€to€be€credible,€nor€wasÐ ` Ðthe€explanation€of€why€he€had€not€revealed€the€information€at€an€earlier€stage€of€theÐ öF Ðproceedings.€The€authorities€also€questioned€the€authenticity€of€the€document€submitted€byÐ Ü, Ðthe€author€which€he€claimed€showed€that€he€had€been€sentenced€to€five€years'€imprisonmentÐ Â Ðfor€political€activities.€Ð ¨ø ÐÌ4.7€Furthermore,€in€his€third€new€application€to€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€the€author€claimedÐ tÄ Ðthat€his€whole€family€was€known€to€be€opposed€to€the€regime€in€Turkey€and€submitted€aÐ Zª Ðcopy€of€a€judgement€pronounced€on€31€August€1995€by€a€security€court€in€Izmir€by€whichÐ @ Ðone€of€his€brothers€was€sentenced€to€15€years'€imprisonment€for€his€connections€with€theÐ &v ÐÔ_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€He€himself€was€mentioned€in€the€judgement.€Ð  \ ÐÌ4.8€Information€provided€by€the€Swedish€Embassy€in€Ankara,€according€to€which€tamperingÐ Ø( Ðwith€the€copy€of€the€judgement€cannot€be€ruled€out,€further€undermines€the€author's€generalÐ ¾ Ðcredibility.€In€a€copy€names€and€words€can€be€deleted€and€replaced€without€detection.€TheÐ ¤ô Ðauthor€could€easily€have€obtained€and€submitted€an€original€or€a€duly€authenticated€copy€ofÐ Š Ú Ðthe€judgement.€Moreover,€the€author€is€not€mentioned€among€the€suspects,€the€condemnedÐ p!À  Ðor€the€acquitted€in€the€judgement,€which€means€that€he€was€not€even€prosecuted.€Ð V"¦! ÐÌ4.9€The€medical€reports€fail€to€give€sufficient€support€to€the€claim€that€the€author's€injuriesÐ "$r# Ðwere€caused€in€the€manner€described€by€him.€One€of€the€doctors€indicated€in€his€writtenÐ %X $ Ðstatement€that€the€author€was€subjected€to€torture€in€1987.€However,€the€author€himself€didÐ î%>!% Ðnot€assert€this.€No€physical€evidence€has€been€found€to€confirm€torture€and€it€has€not€beenÐ Ô&$"& Ðpossible€with€any€certainty€to€connect€any€of€the€injuries€to€the€alleged€torture.€It€should€alsoÐ º' #' Ðbe€noted€that€the€author€did€not€produce€any€medical€evidence€and€did€not€undergo€anyÐ  (ð#( Ðmedical€examination€until€a€late€stage€in€the€proceedings.€Ð †)Ö$) ÐÌ4.10€To€sum€up,€the€author€has€not€substantiated€his€allegation€that€he€would€run€a€particularÐ R+¢&+ Ðpersonal€risk€of€being€detained€and€tortured€if€he€were€to€return€to€Turkey.€If€he€wishes€toÐ 8,ˆ', Ðavoid€the€disturbances€that€undoubtedly€characterize€the€south„east€region,€he€has€theÐ -n(- Ðpossibility€of€staying€in€another€part€of€the€country.€Ð ° ÐÌ4.11€On€the€basis€of€the€foregoing,€the€State€party€contends€that€the€information€which€theÐ |Ì Ðauthor€has€provided€does€not€demonstrate€that€the€risk€of€being€detained€or€tortured€is€aÐ b² Ðforeseeable€and€necessary€consequence€of€his€return€to€Turkey.€An€enforcement€of€theÐ H˜ Ðexpulsion€order€to€Turkey€would€therefore,€in€the€present€circumstances,€not€constitute€aÐ . ~ Ðviolation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Furthermore,€as€a€consequence€of€the€fact€that€theÐ  d Ðauthor's€claims€lack€the€substantiation€that€is€necessary€in€order€to€render€the€communicationÐ ú J Ðcompatible€with€article€22€of€the€Convention,€the€present€communication€should€beÐ à 0 Ðconsidered€inadmissible.€Ð Æ   ÐÌòòCounsel's€commentsóó€Ð ’â  ÐÌ5.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€party's€submission,€counsel€refers€to€the€question€ofÐ ^®  Ðexhaustion€of€domestic€remedies€and€states€that€there€are€no€new€circumstances€that€couldÐ D”  Ðjustify€filing€a€new€application€in€accordance€with€the€Aliens€Act.€All€remedies,€therefore,Ð *z  Ðhave€been€exhausted.€Ð ` ÐÌ5.2€Counsel€also€refers€to€the€statement€that€the€author,€if€deported,€would€not€be€returnedÐ Ü, Ðto€south„east€Turkey.€In€this€regard€it€should€be€emphasized€that€persons€suspected€ofÐ Â Ðaffiliation€to€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€have€no€alternative€but€to€flee€abroad;€the€author€faces€a€substantialÐ ¨ø Ðrisk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€anywhere€in€the€country,€regardless€of€which€city€he€mightÐ ŽÞ Ðbe€returned€to.€Moreover,€any€involvement€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€is€considered€as€a€very€seriousÐ tÄ Ðcrime.€Ð Zª ÐÌ5.3€With€respect€to€the€changes€made€by€the€author€when€telling€his€story€to€the€immigrationÐ &v Ðauthorities,€counsel€reiterates€that€the€author€did€conceal€facts€during€the€initial€interview.Ð  \ ÐHowever,€he€provided€a€rational€explanation€as€to€why€he€did€so.€In€addition,€he€gave€anÐ òB Ðaccount€of€the€main€elements€of€his€story€and€was€able€to€provide€evidence€that€the€majorityÐ Ø( Ðof€his€amendments€were€true.€In€view€of€the€medical€evidence€substantiating€that€he€has€beenÐ ¾ Ðtortured,€those€changes€should€not€have€a€decisive€effect€on€the€author's€general€credibility.€Ð ¤ô ÐÌ5.4€The€State€party€refers€to€a€report€by€the€Swedish€Embassy€in€Ankara€concerning€theÐ p!À  Ðjudgement€pronounced€by€the€Security€Court€in€1995€and€concludes€that€tampering€with€theÐ V"¦! Ðdocument€cannot€be€excluded.€The€State€party€concludes€this€to€mean€that€the€document€mayÐ <#Œ" Ðhave€been€altered;€however,€the€opposite€conclusion€could€equally€be€valid.€To€support€itsÐ "$r# Ðconclusion€of€possible€tampering€the€Embassy€states,€òòinter€aliaóó,€that€the€middle€name€of€theÐ %X $ Ðauthor€(i.e.€Ô_ÔYusefÔ_Ô)€was€not€mentioned.€It€should€be€noted,€however,€that€"Yusef"€is€the€nameÐ î%>!% Ðof€the€author's€father,€as€indicated€in€his€identity€document,€and€has€incorrectly€beenÐ Ô&$"& Ðattributed€to€the€author€by€the€Swedish€authorities.€The€author€does€not€have€a€middle€name.Ð º' #' ÐIt€is€also€argued€that€the€author's€name€is€only€mentioned€once€in€the€verdict€and€that€he€wasÐ  (ð#( Ðnot€one€of€the€prosecuted.€It€should€be€recalled,€however,€that€this€is€a€summary€verdictÐ †)Ö$) Ðconcerning€several€defendants€and€that€the€author€had€already€fled€the€country€when€it€wasÐ l*¼%* Ðissued.€The€verdict€did€not€involve€any€persons€who€had€not€already€been€arrested.€TheÐ R+¢&+ Ðaction€attributed€to€the€author€in€the€court€decision€falls€under€the€anti„terrorist€legislationÐ 8,ˆ', Ðand€confirms,€therefore,€that€the€Turkish€authorities€would€have€an€interest€in€him.€Ð -n(- Ї5.5€The€State€party€stresses€that€the€author€did€not€request€asylum€immediately€after€hisÐ ° Ðarrival.€However,€it€has€not€given€any€explanation€as€to€why€this€circumstance€should€affectÐ –æ Ðthe€credibility€of€the€author.€Ð |Ì ÐÌ5.6€With€respect€to€the€assertion€in€one€of€the€medical€reports€that€the€author€had€beenÐ H˜ Ðtortured€in€1987,€counsel€provides€a€copy€of€a€written€statement€made€by€the€psychiatrist€onÐ . ~ Ð13€May€1998€acknowledging€that€this€was€his€mistake.€Counsel€also€contends€that€the€StateÐ  d Ðparty€never€sought€an€expert€review€of€the€medical€reports€nor€contacted€the€Ô_ÔCentreÔ_Ô€forÐ ú J ÐTorture€and€Trauma€Survivors.€This,€however,€should€have€been€the€logical€thing€to€do€inÐ à 0 Ðview€of€the€doubts€the€authorities€had€expressed€regarding€the€author's€credibility.€Ð Æ   ÐÌ5.7€In€one€of€the€applications€the€author€requested€that,€if€the€Appeal€Board€had€doubts€asÐ ’â  Ðto€the€credibility€of€the€information€submitted,€it€should€allow€the€author€an€oral€hearing.Ð xÈ  ÐThe€Board€rejected€the€request€without€submitting€any€reasons.€According€to€the€Aliens€ActÐ ^®  Ðsuch€a€hearing€is€mandatory€upon€request,€unless€it€would€be€immaterial€for€the€outcome€ofÐ D”  Ðthe€case.€Given€that€the€Board's€rejection€was€based€on€the€author's€credibility,€it€is€difficultÐ *z  Ðto€understand€how€an€oral€hearing€could€be€considered€"immaterial€for€the€outcome€of€theÐ ` Ðcase".€Ð öF ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð  ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€againstÐ ŽÞ ÐTorture€must€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€TheÐ tÄ ÐCommittee€has€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€theÐ Zª ÐConvention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€anotherÐ @ Ðprocedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€is€further€of€theÐ &v Ðopinion€that€all€domestic€remedies€have€been€exhausted€and€finds€that€no€further€obstaclesÐ  \ Ðto€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€exist.€Since€both€the€State€party€and€the€author'sÐ òB Ðcounsel€have€provided€observations€on€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€CommitteeÐ Ø( Ðproceeds€with€the€consideration€of€those€merits.€Ð ¾ ÐÌ6.2€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€author€to€TurkeyÐ Š Ú Ðwould€violate€the€obligation€of€Sweden€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€not€to€expel€or€toÐ p!À  Ðreturn€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€heÐ V"¦! Ðwould€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€Ð <#Œ" ÐÌ6.3€The€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€paragraph€1€of€article€3,€whether€there€areÐ %X $ Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ î%>!% Ðtorture€upon€return€to€Turkey.€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€intoÐ Ô&$"& Ðaccount€all€relevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€paragraph€2€of€article€3,€including€theÐ º' #' Ðexistence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€TheÐ  (ð#( Ðaim€of€the€determination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€wouldÐ †)Ö$) Ðbe€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€wouldÐ l*¼%* Ðreturn.€The€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€humanÐ R+¢&+ Ðrights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€aÐ 8,ˆ', Ðparticular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€thatÐ -n(- Ðcountry;€specific€grounds€must€exist€indicating€that€the€individual€concerned€would€beÐ ° Ðpersonally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€humanÐ –æ Ðrights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedÐ |Ì Ðto€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.€Ð b² ÐÌ6.4€The€Committee€is€aware€of€the€serious€human€rights€situation€in€Turkey.€Reports€fromÐ . ~ Ðreliable€sources€suggest€that€persons€suspected€of€having€links€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€are€frequentlyÐ  d Ðtortured€in€the€course€of€interrogations€by€law€enforcement€officers€and€that€this€practice€isÐ ú J Ðnot€limited€to€particular€areas€of€the€country.€Ð à 0 ÐÌ6.5€It€is€not€in€dispute€that€the€author€comes€from€a€politically€active€family.€Moreover,€theÐ ¬ ü  ÐCommittee€considers€the€explanations€regarding€his€own€political€activities€as€credible€andÐ ’â  Ðconsistent€with€the€findings€of€the€medical€reports€according€to€which€he€suffers€from€post„Ð xÈ  Ðtraumatic€stress€syndrome€and€his€scars€are€in€conformity€with€the€alleged€causes.€AlthoughÐ ^®  Ðthe€author€changed€his€first€version€of€the€facts€he€gave€a€logical€explanation€of€his€reasonsÐ D”  Ðfor€having€done€so.€Hence,€the€Committee€has€not€found€inconsistencies€that€wouldÐ *z  Ðchallenge€the€general€veracity€of€his€claim.€Ð ` ÐÌ6.6€In€the€circumstances€the€Committee€considers€that,€given€the€human€rights€situation€inÐ Ü, ÐTurkey,€the€author's€political€affiliation€and€activities€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€as€well€as€his€history€ofÐ Â Ðdetention€and€torture€constitute€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€at€risk€ofÐ ¨ø Ðbeing€arrested€and€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Turkey.€Ð ŽÞ ÐÌ7.€In€the€light€of€the€above,€the€Committee€is€of€the€view€that€the€State€party€has€anÐ Zª Ðobligation,€in€conformity€with€article€3€of€the€Convention,€to€refrain€from€forcibly€returningÐ @ Ðthe€author€to€Turkey€or€to€any€other€country€where€he€runs€a€real€risk€of€being€expelled€orÐ &v Ðreturned€to€Turkey.€Ð  \ ÐÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€originalÐ Ø( Ðversion.]€Ð ¾ ÐÓÔÓ