ÿWPC)  /•CµËJ陟ßY›1‘™Ÿß{U£œJ@âJy»;³ƒ:›››íœ òuc>¤|êàùÜt©mGÒÆï¹P56*Y®úQ;-ö¦óÇmÏf“UÀ?‰Ž¾Zµ õQxõƒy_)ÿ¸ÉÏxpŸ‘ÏÎzÉYð2Â,|˜#˜IÀÙõÚÜe°%*ÁÖS2=Ò¸TùüÄÕÆåò´;ƒ[Ê$%`dœNÎœf̾áûÖ+—|SÁdÞ™1«PKUEœ—4÷Òw•:S$³‡´Ú»Ë Jþ,€Èû CÏŠC†A÷}аá¿}Ë»‰™ê昛·ÌÄWb·(]ÊÌ;ˆC²æ©“=³)Ú­m£*óª,³C\)êä·~ñh!üY`Žâ“á¿ê[y±ôò¤~II»ÔŽÿx߸¦îZsÖkCóÿ4L#íp³ÿʺíx6ïU”)—]ÀÌ´¹¹£Ý¥¦Êð†@—ûÙ”¢ºfóŠk)©¬6¼G" ÚõO?c¢¶¬›lVÚ沌sµoÿ)U®ª/ò))((_êŠêà™ÈVY g o{3ÕR±D|(|r”F¼þDT)-yU>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 (žEs$¡¡ÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ XdŒXX XÔÔ€XdŒXX XdŒÔÔÔ˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PSÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman Regular X ‰4)Æ DDUU£ D E E E Eas().TMPØ+00 ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ Es!ÝÒÜ°ÒÒÜ°ÒÔ..ÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  ÓÔ€ X¨+XX XÔÔ€X¨+XX X¨+ÔÔÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòÔ_ÔH.D.Ô_Ô€ññ[name€deleted]€ññv.€SwitzerlandóóÐ ˆØ ÐÌCommunication€No€112/1998ÌÌ30€April€1999ÌÌCAT/C/22/D/112/1998ÌÌÌVIEWSó óÐ Ô$  ÐññÌññÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Ô_ÔH.D.Ô_Ô€[name€deleted][represented€by€counsel]€Ð ˜è  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€The€author€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòState€partyóó:€Switzerland€Ð H˜ ÐÌòòDate€of€communicationóó:€4€June€1998óóÐ  p ЀÌÌòòÓ  ÓThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ ä4 ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€ÌÌòòMeetingóó€on€30€April€1999,€Ð ¨ø ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€112/1998,€submitted€to€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÏCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€ÌÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ 0"€  Ðcommunication,€his€counsel€and€the€State€party,€ÌÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Ð ô$D # ÐññÌññÌññÓøÓññò òòòññÓ  ÓññViews€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionóóó ó€Ð ¸'#& ÐññÓâÓÓÓññññÌññÌ1.€The€author€of€the€communication€is€Ô_ÔH.D.Ô_Ô,€a€Turkish€citizen€of€Kurdish€origin€who€wasÏborn€in€1960.€He€has€been€refused€refugee€status€in€Switzerland€and€is€threatened€with€beingÏreturned€to€Turkey€with€his€wife€and€two€children.€He€states€that€his€return€to€Turkey€wouldÏbe€in€contradiction€with€Switzerland's€obligations€under€article€3€of€the€Convention.€He€isÐ D-”(, Ðrepresented€by€counsel.€ÌÌñ ñò òñ ñòòThe€facts€as€presented€by€the€authorñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ2.1€The€author€is€from€the€Ô_ÔPazarcikÔ_Ô€region€of€Turkey.€He€states€that€he€was€a€supporter€of€theÏillegal€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€party€as€a€student,€but€did€not€participate€in€specific€activities€apart€fromÏproviding€food€and€clothing€to€friends€who€were€involved€with€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€He€says€that€oneÏof€his€cousins,€an€active€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€member€who€had€been€imprisoned€from€September€1990€toÏApril€1991,€came€to€stay€with€him€and€his€family€after€his€release.€On€14€and€15€May€1991,Ïmembers€of€the€security€forces€came€to€search€for€his€cousin€in€his€home.€Not€finding€him,Ïthey€arrested€the€author€on€15€May€and€took€him€first€to€Ô_ÔPazarcikÔ_Ô€police€station,€where€heÏwas€beaten,€and€later€to€Maras,€where€he€was€questioned€about€his€cousin's€whereabouts€andÏactivities.€He€states€that€he€was€detained€until€28€May€1991€and€that€he€was€tortured,€inÏparticular€with€electric€shocks.€He€was€released€with€the€explanation€that€his€cousin€had€beenÏfound.€ÌÌ2.2€On€returning€to€Ô_ÔPazarcikÔ_Ô,€he€learned€that€his€cousin€had€been€killed€by€the€security€forces.ÏIn€the€hospital€he€saw€the€body,€which€had€been€disfigured€and€mutilated.€In€the€cemeteryÏhe€tried€to€take€a€photo€of€the€body,€but€an€unknown€person€who,€he€believes,€was€connectedÏwith€the€security€forces€prevented€him€from€doing€so€by€throwing€his€camera€on€to€theÏground.€On€5€June€1991,€he€was€again€arrested€for€a€day.€He€was€told€that€the€security€forcesÏwere€aware€of€his€support€for€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô,€and€was€threatened€with€death€if€he€refused€toÏcooperate€with€the€information€service€and€denounce€members€of€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€Feeling€that€hisÏlife€was€in€danger,€he€decided€to€leave€the€country€and€Ô_ÔtravelledÔ_Ô€to€Istanbul€on€14€July€1991.€ÌÌ2.3€On€the€day€of€his€departure€for€Istanbul,€persons€in€civilian€clothes€came€to€his€home€andÏasked€his€wife€where€he€was.€She€told€them€that€he€was€at€work€and€was€thereupon€insultedÏand€accused€of€supporting€terrorists.€She€was€then€taken€to€the€police€station,€where€she€wasÏheld€for€several€hours€and€slapped.€On€13€August€1991€she€joined€her€husband€in€Istanbul.€ÌÌ2.4€The€author€arrived€in€Switzerland€with€his€family€on€20€August€1991€and€immediatelyÏapplied€for€asylum.€The€Federal€Office€for€Refugees€(Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô)€rejected€his€application€on€21ÏApril€1992.€On€17€January€1996,€the€Appeal€Commission€on€Asylum€Matters€(Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô)€rejectedÏhis€appeal.€The€author€submitted€a€request€for€review€of€the€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€decision,€which€was€alsoÏrejected€on€12€August€1996.€Two€requests€for€reconsideration€were€submitted€to€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô,Ïwhich€rejected€them€„€on€5€September€1996€and€1€May€1998.€Finally,€on€19€May€1998,€theÏÔ_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€rejected€the€appeal€against€those€decisions.€ÌÌ2.5€Counsel€states€that€the€author's€flight€would€be€largely€inexplicable€had€it€not€been€forÏthe€torture€he€had€suffered€and€the€pressure€brought€to€bear€on€him€to€collaborate€with€theÏsecret€services.€It€should€be€borne€in€mind€that€his€wife€had€been€seven€months€pregnantÏwhen€she€left€and€the€author€had€been€financially€well€off€in€Turkey.€A€psychiatrist€hadÏfound€that€the€author€was€suffering€from€post„traumatic€stress€disorder€caused€mainly€by€hisÏexperiences€prior€to€his€arrival€in€Switzerland.€Furthermore,€the€author€and€his€family€hadÏlived€illegally€in€Switzerland€for€more€than€two€years,€which€had€seriously€undermined€hisÐ @-(, Ðpsychological€health.€Had€it€not€been€for€the€certainty€of€being€tortured€in€Turkey€if€he€wentÏback,€his€illegal€stay€in€Switzerland€remained€unaccountable.€ÌÌñ ñò òñ ñòòThe€merits€of€the€complaintñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð tÄ ÐÌ3.€In€view€of€the€reasons€which€prompted€his€departure€from€Turkey€and€the€existence€of€aÏconsistent€pattern€of€flagrant€persecution€of€Kurdish€separatists€by€the€Turkish€authorities,Ïthe€author€states€that€his€return€to€Turkey€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€theÏConvention,€since€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€at€risk€ofÏbeing€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return.€ÌÌÔ_Ôñ ñò òñ ñòòTheÔ_Ô€State€party's€observations€on€the€admissibility€and€merits€of€the€communicationñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð Ô$  ÐÌ4.1€In€a€letter€of€19€August€1998,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€it€had€beenÏunable€to€accede€to€the€Committee's€invitation€of€23€June€1998,€pursuant€to€article€108,Ïparagraph€9,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€not€to€expel€or€return€the€author€to€Turkey€since€he€andÏhis€family€had€been€missing€since€15€September€1996.€On€27€November€1998,€the€StateÏparty€informed€the€Committee€that€the€author€and€his€family€had€reappeared€and€that€theÏÔ_ÔODRÔ_Ô€had€requested€the€immigration€authorities€of€the€Canton€of€Berne€not€to€enforce€theÏreturn€while€the€present€communication€was€pending€before€the€Committee.€The€State€partyÏalso€indicated€that€it€did€not€contest€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€ÌÌ4.2€As€to€substance,€the€State€party€notes€that€the€author€has,€in€his€communication€to€theÏCommittee,€recapitulated€the€arguments€he€adduced€in€support€of€his€application€for€asylum.ÏIn€the€latter€he€had€stated€that€he€had€given€financial€support€to€active€members€of€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.ÏIn€addition,€he€had€provided€them€with€food€and€clothing.€He€stated€that€he€had€been€arrestedÏfor€the€first€time€in€1977€and€that,€in€1982,€he€had€been€put€under€pressure€to€cooperate€withÏthe€Turkish€information€service.€He€claims€that€his€return€to€Turkey€would€expose€him€to€theÏrisk€of€Ô_ÔrearrestÔ_Ô€and€torture€(known€as€"deliberate€persecution").€ÌÌ4.3€According€to€the€State€party,€the€statements€made€by€the€author€at€his€hearings€before€theÏÔ_ÔODRÔ_Ô€on€30€August€and€2€December€1991€contained€factual€inconsistencies€andÏcontradictions.€The€private€medical€examination€of€31€January€1998€„€six€and€a€half€yearsÏafter€the€deposit€of€his€application€for€asylum€„€did€not€prove€that€the€post„traumaticÏdisorders€had€originated€at€a€time€prior€to€his€departure€from€his€country.€Even€if€the€authorÏhad€been€subjected€to€torture,€the€Swiss€authorities€considered€that€he€would€not€be€in€dangerÏof€being€subjected€to€"deliberate€persecution"€on€his€return€to€Turkey€in€view€of,€òòinter€aliaóó,Ð à%0!$ Ðthe€information€obtained€by€the€Swiss€embassy€in€Ankara€that€the€author€was€not€wanted€byÏthe€police€and€was€not€forbidden€to€hold€a€passport.€ÌÌ4.4€The€competent€Swiss€authorities€mentioned€the€lack€of€credibility€of€the€author'sÏstatement€that€he€had€been€tortured€during€his€detention€from€15€to€28€May€1991.€In€supportÏof€his€communication,€the€author€states,€as€he€had€previously€done€before€the€SwissÏauthorities,€that€on€15€May€1991€the€security€forces€had€come€to€his€home€looking€for€hisÏcousin€N.D.€When€they€did€not€find€his€cousin,€they€allegedly€took€him€to€Ô_ÔPazarcikÔ_Ô€policeÐ @-(, Ðstation€and€then€to€Ô_ÔKahramanmarasÔ_Ô,€where€they€tortured€him.€During€his€hearing€before€theÏimmigration€authorities€on€2€December€1991,€the€author€stated€that€he€had€been€beaten€withÏrubber€truncheons€while€blindfolded€and€with€his€hands€bound.€He€had€also€allegedly€beenÏsubjected€to€electric€shocks.€When€questioned€on€this€point,€he€had€claimed€that€the€electricÏwire€had€been€attached€to€his€toes€and€that€his€whole€body€had€shaken.€He€had€been€able€toÏdescribe€in€detail€the€appliance€from€which€the€electric€shocks€originated:€"There€was€a€sortÏof€grip€which€they€attached€to€my€toes.€There€was€also€an€appliance€like€a€battery€which€theyÏplugged€in".€The€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€had€noted€certain€inconsistencies€in€the€author's€account.ÏHe€had€allegedly€been€blindfolded€while€being€taken€to€the€place€where€he€had€been€tortured,Ïbut€he€had€nevertheless€been€able€to€describe€in€detail€the€appliance€which€produced€theÏelectric€shocks€and€the€way€in€which€it€had€been€used,€even€though,€in€his€own€words,€he€hadÏbeen€blindfolded€during€the€torture.€In€his€communication,€being€aware€of€this€contradiction,Ïhe€claims€that€he€had€imagined€the€physical€causes€of€the€pain€and€had€given€a€very€generalÏdescription€of€them.€In€that€connection,€he€maintains€that€the€Swiss€authorities€haveÏcompletely€ignored€the€normal€functioning€of€memory.€Irrespective€of€the€validity€of€thatÏobjection,€it€should€be€recalled€that€the€Swiss€authorities€had€taken€account€of€a€large€numberÏof€other€inconsistencies€in€casting€doubt€on€the€author's€credibility.€ÌÌ4.5€On€28€May€1991,€after€the€security€forces€had€found€his€cousin,€the€author€had€allegedlyÏbeen€released€right€away.€The€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€had€concluded€therefrom,€in€its€decision€of€17€JanuaryÏ1996,€that€the€Turkish€authorities€had€not€been€interested€in€pursuing€the€author€since€onlyÏN.D.€had€been€of€interest€to€them.€In€its€decision€of€21€April€1992,€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô€had€consideredÏthat€the€author€would€not€have€been€released€if€the€Turkish€security€forces€had€reallyÏsuspected€him€of€having€supported€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€In€any€event,€judicial€proceedings€would€haveÏbeen€initiated€against€him€and€he€would€have€been€detained€for€longer€than€14€days.€In€noÏcircumstances€would€he€have€been€released€on€the€very€day€when€N.D.€was€found.€ÌÌ4.6€Another€point€was€that€the€author€and€his€wife€had,€according€to€their€statements,€legallyÏobtained€identity€cards€on€9€July€1991,€i.e.€after€the€arrest.€That€would€have€been€unlikelyÏin€the€case€of€a€person€who€was€genuinely€sought€by€the€Turkish€information€service€sinceÏhe€would€have€been€in€danger€of€again€being€arrested€at€that€time.€In€reply€to€that€argumentÏby€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô,€the€author€had€stated€in€his€appeal€to€the€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€of€10€September€1993€that€heÏhad€not€obtained€the€identity€cards€himself,€but€had€obtained€them€through€a€certain€Ô_ÔMehmetÔ_ÔÏÔ_ÔJeniayÔ_Ô,€who€was€allegedly€on€good€terms€with€the€Ô_ÔPazarcikÔ_Ô€authorities.€The€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€consideredÏthat€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€new€explanation€was€irrelevant,€in€the€light€of€the€author's€statements€at€his€previousÏhearings.€ÌÌ4.7€In€his€application€for€review€of€25€April€1996,€the€author€had€transmitted€documentsÏ(indictment€for€accepting€or€soliciting€bribes€and€forgery,€judgement€concerning€Ô_ÔMahmutÔ_ÔÏÔ_ÔYeniayÔ_Ô)€intended€to€demonstrate€that€Ô_ÔMahmutÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔYeniayÔ_Ô€(or€Ô_ÔMehmetÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔJeniayÔ_Ô),€an€official€in€theÏidentity€card€office€in€Ô_ÔPazarcikÔ_Ô€and€known€for€his€corruptibility€and€irregularities€whenÏissuing€such€cards,€had€indeed€issued€the€identity€card€in€question.€In€its€decision€of€12ÏAugust€1996,€the€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€had€noted€the€following€inconsistencies€in€that€connection:€ÌÌ(a)€The€criminal€proceedings€against€Ô_ÔMahmutÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔYeniayÔ_Ô€had€been€still€pending€at€the€time€whenÐ @-(, Ðthe€identity€cards€were€issued.€It€is€difficult€to€imagine€that€he€might€still€have€been€able€toÏissue€such€documents€in€complete€freedom,€especially€since€he€had€been€imprisoned€for€oneÏmonth€shortly€before;€ÌÌ(b)€On€the€identity€card€submitted€to€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô,€the€name€of€the€issuing€official€is€not€that€ofÏÔ_ÔMahmutÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔYeniayÔ_Ô;€ÌÌ(c)€In€the€present€communication€the€author€reaffirms€what€he€stated€at€his€first€hearing,Ïnamely€that€he€had€obtained€his€identity€card€legally,€whereas€in€his€appeals€withinÏSwitzerland€he€has€Ô_ÔendeavouredÔ_Ô€to€demonstrate€the€opposite.€ÌÌ4.8€Other€contradictions€by€the€applicant€are€also€apparent:€ÌÌ(a)€The€author€stated€in€his€communication,€as€he€had€done€to€the€Swiss€authorities,€that€hisÏcousin€had€stayed€with€him€after€having€been€released€and€that€he€had€given€food€andÏclothing€to€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€members.€His€wife,€on€the€other€hand,€stated€that,€during€that€same€period,Ïher€husband€had€been€building€a€school€in€a€village€near€Ô_ÔCeritÔ_Ô€and€that€often€he€would€notÏcome€home€for€three€or€four€days,€or€even€a€week.€She€stated€that€she€had€prepared€meals€forÏN.D.€and€one€of€her€cousins,€who€was€also€a€member€of€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€On€the€basis€of€thoseÏstatements,€it€was€probable€that€N.D.€had€not€òòstayedóó€in€the€author's€home.€There€might,Ð 4„ Ðhowever,€have€been€occasional€meetings€between€them.€ÌÌ(b)€Reference€should€also€be€made€to€certain€contradictions€in€the€author's€statementsÏconcerning€the€duration€of€his€detention€in€Ô_ÔPazarcikÔ_Ô€following€his€arrest€on€15€May€1991.€HeÏhad€mentioned€two€days€in€his€statements€to€the€registration€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€and€four€days€to€theÏimmigration€authorities.€ÌÌ(c)€The€author€also€contradicted€himself€in€his€statements€concerning€the€date€of€the€lastÏarrest,€giving€5€June€1991€to€the€registration€Ô_ÔcentreÔ_Ô€and€in€the€communication,€and€6€JuneÏ1991€to€the€immigration€authorities.€Furthermore,€his€wife€has€never€spoken€of€that€arrest.€ÌÌ(d)€The€author's€statements€are€unconvincing€and€inconsistent€concerning€the€circumstancesÏof€the€burial€of€N.D.€In€particular,€he€stated€at€his€first€hearing€that€he€had€been€prevented€byÏan€unknown€person€from€photographing€the€body€of€N.D.,€whereas€at€the€second€hearing€theÏperson€preventing€him€had€been€a€member€of€the€special€unit€or€the€information€service.€ÌÌ(e)€It€is€unlikely€that€the€author,€who€had€allegedly€been€threatened€with€death€if€he€did€notÏcooperate€with€the€information€service€at€the€time€of€his€last€arrest€on€6€June€1991,€wouldÏhave€been€released€after€only€one€day.€ÌÌ(f)€It€is€also€unlikely€that€the€author€would€have€waited€a€further€two€months€before€fleeingÏhis€country€or€that€he€could€have€been€issued,€in€complete€legality,€with€an€identity€cardÏbefore€his€departure.€ÌÌ(g)€In€his€communication€the€author€maintains€that,€if€he€had€not€really€been€tortured,€heÐ @-(, Ðwould€not€have€run€away€with€his€wife€because€she€had€been€seven€months€pregnant€at€theÏtime€of€departure.€In€that€connection,€the€question€arises€why€the€author€had€waited€a€furtherÏtwo€months€after€his€last€arrest€before€fleeing.€As€time€passed,€it€was€becoming€more€andÏmore€difficult€to€leave€the€country.€ÌÌ4.9€In€the€light€of€the€foregoing€considerations,€the€allegations€of€arrests€and€persecutionÏsuffered€by€the€author€appear€very€doubtful€and€are€not€based€on€any€substantial€indicationÏworthy€of€consideration€under€article€3€of€the€Convention.€ÌÌ4.10€In€his€communication€the€author€claims€that€the€post„traumatic€disorders€from€whichÏhe€is€suffering€are€primarily€the€result€of€what€he€suffered€in€Turkey.€The€doctor€whoÏexamined€the€author€on€two€occasions,€on€16€and€29€January€1998,€in€the€presence€of€anÏinterpreter,€arrived€at€the€following€diagnosis:€the€author€is€suffering€from€a€post„traumaticÏdisorder;€he€has€other€typical€symptoms:€Ô_ÔtraumatizingÔ_Ô€memories,€sleep€disturbance,€fear€andÏpanic;€he€is€in€need€of€treatment.€The€possible€causes€of€his€psychological€state€are€describedÏby€the€expert€as€follows:€"It€should€be€further€mentioned€that€the€long€period€during€whichÏthe€author€has€hidden€in€Switzerland€has€also€had€a€great€effect€on€his€condition€and€has€leftÏmarks.€His€reactions€during€my€examination€of€him€demonstrate€that€the€most€significantÏelements€derive€from€the€preceding€period."€ÌÌ4.11€The€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€considered€that€there€was€nothing€to€show€that€the€author'sÏdisorders€resulted€from€the€torture€he€had€allegedly€suffered€in€Turkey€in€1991.€The€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_ÔÏnoted€that€the€doctor's€statement€that€the€causes€of€the€disorders€had€existed€mainly€prior€toÏthe€author's€disappearance€did€not€mean€that€the€causes€did€not€date€back€to€a€periodÏfollowing€the€author's€departure€from€his€country.€As€the€doctor€had€noted,€living€illegallyÏfor€two€years€was€undoubtedly€very€stressful€for€the€father€of€a€family€and€could€be€aÏplausible€cause€for€his€poor€psychological€condition.€In€any€event,€it€is€undoubtedlyÏsurprising€that€the€author€did€not€report€his€post„traumatic€disorders€until€1998,€i.e.€six€andÏa€half€years€after€his€arrival€in€Switzerland,€precisely€at€the€time€when€he€was€due€to€be€sentÏback.€The€State€party€believes€it€has€thus€demonstrated€that€the€medical€test€should€not€beÏregarded€as€evidence€within€the€meaning€of€paragraph€8€(c)€of€the€Committee's€generalÏcomment€on€the€implementation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€ÌÌ4.12€The€author€maintains€that€on€his€return€he€would€be€liable€to€Ô_ÔrearrestÔ_Ô€and€torture€sinceÏhe€has€allegedly€supported€relatives€sought€by€the€security€forces.€However,€the€relativesÏactive€within€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€whom€he€claims€to€have€supported,€namely€his€cousin€N.D.€and€hisÏwife's€cousin,€were€killed€in€1991€and€1992€respectively.€It€is€therefore€not€clear€why€theÏTurkish€authorities€should€still€today€be€interested€in€persecuting€the€author.€In€thatÏconnection,€it€should€be€recalled€that,€at€the€time€of€his€arrest€in€May€1991,€the€author€wasÏimmediately€released€after€the€special€unit€found€the€body€of€N.D.€On€the€occasion€of€his€lastÏarrest€in€June€1991,€he€was€not€tortured€and€was€released€the€same€day.€From€this€it€may€beÏconcluded€that€the€information€service,€already€at€that€time,€no€longer€had€any€special€interestÏin€pursuing€the€author.€Lastly,€it€cannot€be€claimed€that€the€Turkish€authorities€consider€that,Ïafter€living€abroad€for€more€than€seven€years,€the€author€is€still€in€close€contact€with€relativesÏactive€in€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€in€Turkey.€Ð @-(, Ї4.13€In€its€decision€of€12€August€1996€the€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô,€in€accordance€with€its€previous€decisionsÏin€cases€of€deliberate€persecution,€found€that€threat€of€persecution€was€generally€limited€toÏa€small€geographical€area€and€that€the€individual€concerned€could€avoid€the€threat€ofÏpersecution€by€settling€in€another€region€of€the€country.€In€addition,€the€Swiss€mission€inÏAnkara€had€made€inquiries€about€the€author's€situation€in€Turkey€and,€in€November€1992,Ïconfirmed€that€the€police€had€no€political€file€on€the€author€and€that€he€had€no€criminalÏrecord.€Nor€had€his€right€to€hold€a€passport€been€revoked.€On€the€contrary€he€and€his€wifeÏhad€obtained€passports€in€1991€at€Ô_ÔKahramanmarasÔ_Ô,€contrary€to€what€he€had€said.€All€theseÏconsiderations€make€"deliberate€persecution"€very€implausible.€ÌÌ4.14€Admittedly,€to€determine€whether€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€aÏperson€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture,€the€competent€authorities€must€takeÏinto€account€"all€relevant€considerations€including,€where€applicable,€the€existence€in€theÏState€concerned€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights"Ï(Convention,€art.€3€(2)).€The€Swiss€Government€does€not€dispute€the€fact€that€the€situationÏin€certain€regions€of€south„eastern€Turkey€is€difficult€owing€to€fighting€between€TurkishÏsecurity€forces€and€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€movements.€Violent€conflicts,€however,€are€concentrated€in€clearly„¼defined€regions.€In€previous€decisions€the€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€has€consistently€found€that€deliberateÏpersecution€is€generally€limited€to€a€small€geographical€area,€basically€a€village€or€regionÏwhere€the€local€police€act€on€their€own€authority.€Thus€there€is€generally€the€possibility€ofÏfleeing,€in€this€case€to€towns€or€cities€in€western€Turkey,€especially€as€freedom€ofÏestablishment€is€guaranteed€in€Turkey€and€there€are€social€networks€in€western€Turkey€forÏreceiving€large€numbers€of€Kurds.€ÌÌ4.15€Thus€Kurds€do€not€appear€to€be€at€risk€in€all€regions€of€Turkey€today.€In€the€case€atÏhand,€therefore,€the€inquiry€should€focus€on€whether€the€author€would€be€personally€at€riskÏif€he€were€to€return€to€Turkey€and€whether€he€has€a€fair€and€reasonable€possibility€of€settlingÏin€certain€regions€of€Turkey.€In€its€decision€of€17€January€1996,€the€Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€found€that€returningÏthe€author€to€Ô_ÔKahramanmarasÔ_Ô,€his€province€of€origin,€would€not€be€admissible,€but€that€theÏauthor€„€who€speaks€Turkish€well€and€has€a€good€education,€his€wife€and€two€children€could,Ïon€the€other€hand,€be€perfectly€well€expected€to€begin€to€lead€a€decent€and€worthy€life€in€aÏregion€of€the€country€where€they€would€not€be€at€risk.€Considering€the€author's€professionalÏexperience€in€different€fields€and€his€educational€background,€it€may€be€assumed€that€he€willÏhave€comparatively€fewer€problems€in€finding€the€means€to€support€himself€and€his€familyÏthan€many€other€members€of€the€Kurdish€people.€ÌÌ4.16€In€view€of€the€foregoing,€the€Swiss€Government€invites€the€Committee€against€TortureÏto€find€that€the€return€to€Turkey€of€the€author€of€this€communication€would€not€constitute€aÏviolation€of€Switzerland's€international€commitments€under€the€Convention.€ÌÌÔ_Ôñ ñò òñ ñòòCounsel'sÔ_Ô€commentsñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð )à$( ÐÌ5.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€party's€observations,€counsel€says€the€fact€that€theÏcompetent€authorities€have€handed€down€six€decisions€is€no€indication€that€they€have€delvedÏvery€deeply€into€the€case.€The€authorities€have€at€no€time€noted€that€the€author€was€sufferingÐ @-(, Ðfrom€post„traumatic€stress€disorders€due€to€the€events€he€had€experienced€in€Turkey,€nor€haveÏthey€ever€thought€of€consulting€a€psychiatrist€to€compensate€for€their€own€lack€of€knowledgeÏin€this€area.€ÌÌ5.2€The€State€party€denies€the€conclusions€of€the€medical€report,€without€giving€any€reasons.ÏThe€report,€however,€clearly€notes€that€most€of€the€author's€post„traumatic€problems€stemÏfrom€a€time€before€he€left€his€country.€ÌÌ5.3€No€conclusions€concerning€torture€or€political€persecution€can€be€drawn€from€the€factÏthat€the€Government€of€Turkey€has€not€confirmed€the€existence€of€a€political€file€on€theÏauthor€or€that€he€has€a€criminal€record.€ÌÌ5.4€From€15€to€28€May€1991€the€author€was€in€a€situation€where€he€was€the€victim€ofÏdeliberate€persecution,€according€to€the€principles€established€by€the€Swiss€asylumÏauthorities.€It€is€completely€contradictory€for€the€Swiss€authorities€to€cast€doubt€on€theÏauthor's€credibility€when€he€claims€to€have€been€arrested€and€tortured€because€the€TurkishÏauthorities€were€looking€for€N.D.€ÌÌ5.5€Counsel€holds€that€it€was€perfectly€reasonable€for€Ô_ÔMahmutÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔYeniayÔ_Ô€to€forge€a€name€andÏissue€an€identity€card€for€which€he€had€received€a€bribe.€As€Ô_ÔYeniayÔ_Ô€had€been€released€andÏmight€even€have€anticipated€the€acquittal€of€16€July€1991,€it€was€not€too€dangerous€for€himÏto€continue€to€take€bribes.€ÌÌ5.6€The€author's€so„called€contradictions€are€far€from€sufficient€to€cast€doubt€on€hisÏcredibility.€Firstly,€they€relate€not€to€the€torture€suffered€but€to€unimportant€details.€Secondly,Ïthe€State€party€gives€no€consideration€to€aspects€of€psychological€theory€generally€used€toÏjudge€a€person's€credibility.€ÌÌ5.7€The€so„called€contradiction€mentioned€in€paragraph€4.8€(c)€above€concerns€not€the€authorÏbut€his€wife,€and€the€State€party's€argument€is€mere€speculation.€There€is€nothing€to€indicateÏthat€the€State€party€is€correct€in€assuming€that€N.D.€had€probably€not€stayed€in€the€author'sÏhome.€ÌÌ5.8€The€so„called€contradictions€concerning€the€length€of€the€author's€detention€in€May€1991Ïand€the€date€of€his€last€detention€(paras.€4.8€(b)€and€(c))€in€fact€confirm€the€author'sÏcredibility€since€a€person€with€the€author's€education€would€be€capable€of€devising€aÏconsistent€story€even€if€he€had€not€been€arrested.€ÌÌ5.9€The€fourth€so„called€contradiction€(para.€4.8€(d))€is€not€a€contradiction€at€all,€as€the€authorÏdid€not€know€the€identity€of€the€person€he€suspected€of€being€a€member€of€the€informationÏservices.€Even€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô€concluded€that€the€author's€statements€on€this€point€were€credibleÏ(Ô_ÔCRAÔ_Ô€decision€of€17€January€1996).€ÌÌ5.10€The€fifth€so„called€contradiction,€concerning€the€death€threats€(para.€4.8€(e))€is€also€notÏa€contradiction.€Death€threats€are€used€to€intimidate€people€and€as€a€measure€of€politicalÐ @-(, Ðpersecution.€They€must€be€taken€seriously€in€a€country€where€the€security€services€causeÏdozens€of€persons€to€disappear€every€year,€primarily€in€connection€with€Kurdish€separatism.€ÌÌ5.11€Finally,€with€regard€to€the€sixth€and€seventh€so„called€contradictions€(paras.€4.8€(f)€andÏ(g))€counsel€points€out€that€the€author€did€not€wait€two€months€before€leaving€his€country,Ïbut€in€fact€used€that€time€to€prepare€for€his€departure.€A€decision€to€leave€one's€country€is€notÏone€to€be€taken€lightly,€quite€the€contrary.€ÌÌ5.12€Counsel€submits€that€the€Swiss€authorities€have€not€at€any€time€examined€the€author'sÏstatements€in€the€light€of€psychological€criteria,€in€particular€regarding€the€effects€of€tortureÏon€the€author.€The€author€informed€the€Ô_ÔODRÔ_Ô€on€30€August€1991€that€he€had€been€tortured.ÏAt€no€point€since€then€have€the€Swiss€authorities€attempted€to€verify€that€information€byÏconsulting€a€psychiatrist.€They€alone€are€responsible€for€this€omission.€The€fact€that€theÏauthor€preferred€to€live€illegally€for€two€years€rather€than€return€to€Turkey€is€proof€of€his€fearÏof€being€persecuted€and€tortured€again.€His€fear€is€based€on€the€following:€(a)€the€existenceÏof€a€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€and€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€Turkey€today;€(b)€hisÏcredible€statements,€corroborated€by€a€medical€test,€that€he€has€been€tortured€and€that€theÏeffects€of€the€torture€still€exist;€(c)€there€are€no€flagrant€contradictions€in€his€statements€toÏthe€Swiss€authorities;€(d)€he€took€part€in€political€activities€in€support€of€Kurdish€separatism,Ïwhich€he€made€clear€to€the€Turkish€authorities€by€burying€N.D.€ÌÌ5.13€Counsel€has€sent€the€Committee€a€letter€(undated€and€unsigned)€which€he€says€heÏreceived€from€the€author:€in€it€the€author€casts€doubt€on€the€competence€of€the€interpreterÏpresent€at€a€hearing€with€the€Swiss€authorities.€The€author€also€states€that€any€deficienciesÏin€his€statements€were€due€to€his€psychological€state.€He€had€been€very€close€to€his€cousinÏN.D.,€and€had€been€deeply€shaken€by€his€death€and€the€manner€in€which€he€died.€The€authorÏhad€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€to€dig€the€grave€himself€because€the€other€members€of€his€family€and€theÏundertaker's€staff€had€been€afraid€to€do€so.€Relations€between€one€member€of€a€family€andÏthe€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô€are€sufficient€to€place€the€entire€family€in€danger.€The€author€also€notes€in€the€letterÏthat€it€is€not€difficult€to€obtain€identity€papers€by€paying€someone,€which€he€did.€ÌÌñ ñò òñ ñòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeñ ñó óñ ñóó€Ð D!” 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€that€the€State€party€has€not€contested€theÏadmissibility€of€the€communication.€It€therefore€considers€that€there€is€no€reason€why€theÏcommunication€should€not€be€declared€admissible.€Since€both€the€State€party€and€the€authorÏhave€provided€observations€on€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€Committee€proceedsÏimmediately€with€the€consideration€of€those€merits.€ÌÌ6.2€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€author€to€TurkeyÐ @-(, Ðwould€violate€the€obligation€of€the€State€party€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€Turkey.€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.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÏviolations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€forÏdetermining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€uponÏhis€return€to€that€country.€Other€grounds€must€exist€that€indicate€that€the€individualÏconcerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€grossÏviolations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€might€not€be€subjected€to€torture€inÏhis€or€her€specific€circumstances.€ÌÌ6.4€In€the€present€instance,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€draws€attention€toÏinconsistencies€and€contradictions€in€the€author's€account,€casting€doubt€on€the€truthfulnessÏof€his€allegations.€The€Committee€considers,€however,€that€even€in€the€presence€of€lingeringÏdoubts€as€to€the€truthfulness€of€the€facts€presented€by€the€author€of€a€communication,€it€mustÏsatisfy€itself€that€the€applicant's€security€will€not€be€jeopardized.€It€is€not€necessary,€for€theÏCommittee€to€be€so€satisfied,€that€all€the€facts€related€by€the€author€should€be€proved:€it€isÏenough€if€the€Committee€Ô_ÔconsiersÔ_Ô€them€sufficiently€well€attested€and€credible.€ÌÌ6.5€From€the€information€submitted€by€the€author,€the€Committee€observes€that€the€eventsÏthat€prompted€his€departure€from€Turkey€date€back€to€1991,€and€seem€to€be€particularlyÏlinked€to€his€relations€with€members€of€his€family€who€belong€to€the€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_Ô.€The€apparentÏobject€of€arresting€the€author€in€1991€was,€on€the€first€occasion,€to€force€him€to€disclose€hisÏcousin's€Ô_ÔwhereabutsÔ_Ô,€and€on€the€second€occasion,€to€force€him€to€collaborate€with€the€securityÏforces.€On€the€other€hand,€the€question€of€a€prosecution€against€him€on€specific€charges€hasÏnever€arisen.€Furthermore,€there€is€nothing€to€suggest€that€he€has€collaborated€with€Ô_ÔPKKÔ_ÔÏmembers€in€any€way€since€leaving€Turkey€in€1991,€or€that€he€or€members€of€his€family€haveÏbeen€sought€or€intimidated€by€the€Turkish€authorities.€In€the€circumstances,€the€CommitteeÏconsiders€that€the€author€has€not€furnished€sufficient€evidence€to€support€his€fears€of€beingÏarrested€and€tortured€upon€his€return.€ÌÌ6.6€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€the€numerous€reports€of€human€rights€violations,Ïincluding€the€use€of€torture,€in€Turkey,€but€recalls€that,€for€the€purposes€of€article€3€of€theÏConvention,€the€individual€concerned€must€face€a€foreseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€of€beingÏtortured€in€the€country€to€which€he€is€returned.€In€the€light€of€the€foregoing,€the€CommitteeÏdeems€that€such€a€risk€has€not€been€established.€ÌÐ @-(, Ð6.7€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€ConventionÏagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€concludesÏthat€the€State€party's€decision€to€return€the€author€to€Turkey€does€not€constitute€a€breach€ofÏarticle€3€of€the€Convention.€ÌÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€French€text€being€the€original€version.]€ÌÓ\ Ó