ÿWPC> õ“ãc`õ²ÊûïD½=k…•½Lý¾¦®"ôRmž… ÒØ«zBÊ:lwjɘi~6÷ž3¬àn³ë¤À L{¯¨amÕ7‚Òn_¢äÜ®uÚíÚ%£tŸ1wB$ Þ ÄA…Ý2î°·£œ= {oIù¼ÓŽƒ£;ïºkŸ9³YºèvJ¸·æÙ§Ï7wŽ' ål' ¸& Ä©埆ÊKœN¸»c??ðÃ+§ÌY¹æ+S°-á®ù¾LëÚY±Ê+$Ei´«v¦PÍ<`x"µ|Á4M\D¿#ƒàf}ÕŽ-›íF´M³å5¤ÙÌ yL•7§Pøà€•ÐW@6T_(Ç8=DÍr÷Ÿ\9¾WÕ­5÷á@=ªÔ•„/º³¨²¤îÃä<Ú–@4·¶K¹eºY=(I-Üo¥Rü+f› ‰‘?¶rÇ×»dôÙqU ³“aÞŸÌŠƒ¢B¸GY½”3¾˜º3H ’‰+J ÿÿ0_level4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;+J ÿÿ0_level5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28+J ÿÿ0_level6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25+J ÿÿ0_level7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22+J ÿÿ0_level8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/+J ÿÿ0_level9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levsl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levsl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levsl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levsl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levsl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levsl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levsl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levsl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levsl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô€Ó  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2GJ ÿÿ0_levnl1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2DJ ÿÿ0_levnl2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2AJ ÿÿ0_levnl3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>J ÿÿ0_levnl4Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ` ÓÓ&<<”ìDœôL¤&ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2;J ÿÿ0_levnl5Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ¸ ÓÓ#””ìDœôL¤#ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó28J ÿÿ0_levnl6Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ììDœôL¤ ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó25J ÿÿ0_levnl7Ó ¨ý ÓÓ h ÓÓDDœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó22J ÿÿ0_levnl8Ó ¨ý ÓÓ À ÓÓœœôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2/J ÿÿ0_levnl9Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ ôôL¤ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  ÔÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó6K >ÿÿ4heading 1Ñ  ÑÓ  Óò òÔ UK ÔÔ‡XXXÔÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÓ  Óó óÔ US ÔÑ  ÑÔ‡XXXÔ6@ 3ÿÿ4heading 3Ñ  Ñò òÔ UK ÔÔ‡XXXÔÔ  ÔÔ  Ôó óÔ US ÔÑ  ÑÔ‡XXXÔ<ÿÿ:Default Para%‰(, tQ+.wp`ž¤3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÓ  Óò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòS.€L.€v.€SwedenóóÐ à ÐÌCommunication€No.€150/1999Ð pÀ ÐÌ11€May€2001Ð P   ÐÌÌVIEWSÐ  p  Ðó óÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó€:€€Ô_ÔS.L.Ô_Ô€(name€withheld)Ð ð@  Ðà  àà ` à[represented€by€counsel]Ð à0  ÐÌÑ  ÑòòAlleged€victimóó:€€The€authoròòÐ À ÐÌState€partyóó:€€SwedenÐ  ð ÐÑ  ÑÌÑ  ÑòòDate€of€communicationóó:€€5€November€1999Ð €Ð ÐóóÓ<(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤°œX<ÓÌÌÌà  àòòThe€Committeeòò€óóagainst€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€againstÐ @ ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð 0€ ÐÑ  ÑÌÑ  Ñà  àòòMeetingóó€on€11€May€2001,Ð ` ÐÑ  ÑÌÑ  Ñà  àòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€communication€No.€150/1999,€submitted€to€theÐ ð@ ÐCommittee€against€Torture€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,Ð à0 ÐInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð Ð  ÐÑ  ÑÌÑ  Ñà  àòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€theÐ °"  Ðcommunication,€his€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð  #ð! ÐÑ  ÑÌÑ  Ñà  àòòAdoptsóó€its€Views€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention.€Ð €%Ð # ÐÑ  ÑÌÑ  ÑÔESUK.,Ô1.1à  àÔUK.,ES,.½ÔThe€author€of€the€communication€is€Mr.€S.€L.,€an€Iranian€citizen€currently€residing€inÐ `'°"% ÐSweden,€where€he€is€seeking€refugee€status.€€The€author€arrived€in€Sweden€on€8€February€1998€andÐ P( #& Ðapplied€for€asylum€the€following€day.€€Mr.€S.€L.€claims€that€he€would€risk€torture€upon€return€to€theÐ @)$' ÐIslamic€Republic€of€Iran€and€that€his€forced€return€to€that€country€would€therefore€constitute€aÐ 0*€%( Ðviolation€by€Sweden€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€€The€author€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð  +p&) ÐÑ  ÑÌ1.2à  àIn€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmittedÐ -P(+ Ðcommunication€No.€150/1999€to€the€State€party€on€18€November€1999.€€Pursuant€to€rule€108,Ð ð-@), Ðparagraph€9,€of€the€Committeeððs€rules€of€procedure,€the€State€party€was€requested€not€to€expel€theÐ ° Ðauthor€to€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€pending€the€consideration€of€his€case€by€the€Committee.€€InÐ  ð Ða€submission€dated€21€December€1999€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€the€author€wouldÐ à Ðnot€be€expelled€to€his€country€of€origin€while€his€communication€was€under€consideration€by€theÐ €Ð ÐCommittee.Ð pÀ ÐÌò òThe€facts€as€submitted€by€the€authoró óÐ P   ÐÌ2.1à  àAccording€to€the€author,€he€has€never€been€politically€active€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran.€Ð 0 € ÐHe€was€a€respected€Muslim€of€firm€conviction€who€studied€agronomics€at€Tehran€University€andÐ  p  Ðwho€was€financially€well€off€from€his€own€poultry€farming€business.€€In€December€1988,€having€leftÐ `  Ðuniversity€after€a€few€years€of€study,€the€author€was€drafted€and€was€eventually,€at€his€own€request,Ð P  Ðplaced€with€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€in€Tehran.Ð ð@  ÐÌ2.2à  àThe€author€explains€that€in€the€early€1990s€the€Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€(Iranian€Revolutionary€Guards)€andÐ Ð  Ðthe€police€were€joined€together,€coming€under€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior.€€At€the€same€time,€a€newÐ À Ðsecurity€force€body,€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô,€was€created€directly€under€the€Supreme€Commander,Ð ° ÐAyatollah€Ô_ÔKhameneiÔ_Ô,€with€the€task€to€ð ðprotect€the€system,€defend€the€values€of€Islam€and€theÐ  ð Ðrevolutionðð.€€There€are€also€counter„intelligence€units€within€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€with€responsibilityÐ à Ðfor€internal€control€and€surveillance€of€the€rest€of€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô.€€The€author€was€placed€in€theÐ €Ð ÐTehran€office€of€one€of€these€units,€where€he€soon€gained€everyoneððs€confidence€and€was€appointedÐ pÀ Ðpersonal€secretary€to€the€commander€of€the€office.€€As€such€he€had€access€to€all€files€and€allÐ `° Ðcupboards,€except€one€to€which€only€the€commander€had€the€keys.Ð P  ÐÌ2.3à  àOne€day,€the€commander€accidentally€left€his€keys€in€the€office€when€he€left€for€a€meeting.€Ð 0€ ÐOut€of€curiosity,€the€author€opened€the€ð ðspecial€cupboardðð€and€found€personal€files€containingÐ  p Ðinformation€about€immoral€and€criminal€acts€committed€by€well„known,€highly€respected€individualsÐ ` Ðconsidered,€not€least€by€the€author,€as€pillars€of€society.€€In€his€submission€to€the€Committee,€theÐ P Ðauthor€gives€detailed€information,€including€names€of€the€individuals€concerned€and€the€nature€ofÐ ð@ Ðthe€crimes€supposedly€committed,€including€rape,€illegal€trade€in€arms,€drug€dealing€andÐ à0 Ðembezzlement.Ð Ð  ÐÌ2.4à  àThe€author€took€copies€of€the€files€and€hid€them€in€his€home.€€He€thought€that€if€theÐ °"  Ðallegations€were€forwarded€to€the€right€quarters,€the€individuals€in€question€would€be€investigated,Ð  #ð! Ðsentenced€and€punished€properly.€€In€February/March€1990,€the€author€gave€anonymous€informationÐ $à" Ðto€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€operational€group,€which€resulted€in€a€raid€and€the€discovery€of€illegalÐ €%Ð # Ðweapons€and€ammunition.€€The€author€continued€to€submit€anonymous€information€to€theÐ p&À!$ Ðoperational€group€which€resulted€in€further€raids.€€However,€due€to€the€influential€status€of€theÐ `'°"% Ðindividuals€involved,€the€discoveries€were€covered€up€and€no€arrests€were€made.€€Convinced€that€theÐ P( #& Ðallegations€were€true,€the€author€also€sent€copies€of€the€files€to€the€office€of€Ayatollah€Ô_ÔKhameneiÔ_Ô.€Ð @)$' ÐÌÌ2.5à  àAccording€to€the€author,€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€must€have€become€suspicious€of€him,€becauseÐ ,`'* Ðin€April/May€1991,€shortly€after€having€finished€his€military€service,€the€author€was€arrested€andÐ -P(+ Ðheld€in€one€of€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ôððs€secret€prisons,€the€so€called€ð ðNo.59ðð,€for€six€months.€€AccordingÐ ð-@), Ðto€one€of€the€medical€statements€supporting€the€authorððs€claim,€the€author€was€subjected€to€tortureÐ ° Ðand€ill„treatment.€€He€was€handcuffed€behind€his€knees,€and€with€a€stick€placed€between€his€upperÐ  ð Ðarms€and€thighs€he€was€hung€up€to€rotate,€sometimes€for€hours.€€The€author€also€claims€that€heÐ à Ðreceived€beatings€with€batons€on€the€kneecaps€and€elbows.€€Although€he€was€interrogated€about€theÐ €Ð Ðsecret€reports,€the€author€denied€everything,€knowing€that€a€confession€would€be€the€end€of€him.€Ð pÀ ÐAfter€six€months,€in€November/December€1991,€the€author€was€transferred€to€a€hospital€for€medicalÐ ` ° Ðtreatment€and€thereafter€released€on€bail.Ð P   ÐÌ2.6à  àThe€author€claims€that€after€his€release€he€was€kept€under€close€surveillance€by€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ð 0 € ÐÔ_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô.€€He€was€eventually€asked€to€spy€for€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€on€some€of€the€leaders€of€theÐ  p  ÐState„controlled€farmersðð€cooperative€in€which€he€was€active.€€He€was€also€supposed€to€go€with€theÐ `  Ðcooperative€to€international€fairs€and€report€on€the€leadersðð€behaviour€and€contacts€abroad€and€forÐ P  Ðthis€purpose€the€author€had€a€passport€issued.€€The€author€tried€to€keep€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô-Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€satisfiedÐ ð@  Ðby€providing€some€information,€but€of€limited€interest.€€In€August1995,€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô„Ô_ÔPasdaranÔ_Ô€arrestedÐ à0  Ðhim€again€and€he€was€first€brought€to€the€Ô_ÔEvinÔ_Ô€prison.€€The€author€had€to€leave€samples€of€hisÐ Ð  Ðhandwriting,€presumably€to€compare€it€with€the€writing€on€one€of€the€envelopes€in€which€he€had€sentÐ À Ðanonymous€information.€€According€to€the€allegations,€the€author€was€again€tortured€and€kept€inÐ ° Ðsolitary€confinement€for€several€months.Ð  ð ÐÌ2.7à  àIn€June€1996€the€author€was€brought€to€trial,€convicted€and€sentenced€to€one€yearððsÐ €Ð Ðimprisonment€and€a€fine€for€check€fraud,€a€verdict€which€the€author€presented€to€the€SwedishÐ pÀ Ðimmigration€authorities.€€According€to€the€author,€the€charges€were€fabricated.€€He€was€notÐ `° Ðrepresented€by€a€lawyer€during€the€trial€and€did€not€know€any€of€the€alleged€plaintiffs.€€After€theÐ P  Ðverdict,€the€author€was€transferred€to€Ô_ÔQasarÔ_Ô€prison,€where€he€claims€that€conditions€improved€andÐ @ Ðalthough€he€was€subjected€to€ill„treatment€he€was€never€tortured.Ð 0€ ÐÌ2.8à  àThe€author€claims€that€he€escaped€from€prison€on€22€June€1997.€€His€wife€and€a€number€ofÐ ` Ðclose€friends€arranged€the€flight,€by€reporting€him€to€the€prosecutor€on€false€grounds.€€As€aÐ P Ðconsequence€the€author€was€summoned€and€transported,€together€with€two€other€prisoners,€to€theÐ ð@ Ðcourt€in€Ô_ÔKoshÔ_Ô€district,€accompanied€by€two€police€officers€and€three€soldiers.€€The€guards€wereÐ à0 Ðbribed€by€the€authorððs€wife€and€friends€to€allow€him€to€escape.Ð Ð  ÐÌ2.9à  àAfter€his€escape,€the€author€remained€in€hiding€with€friends€in€Ô_ÔKarachÔ_Ô.€€An€influential€friendÐ °"  Ðof€the€authorððs€family,€with€business€contacts€in€Germany,€arranged€for€the€author€to€receive€a€touristÐ  #ð! Ðvisa.€€The€author€already€had€a€passport€which€he€had€been€issued€in€1991€(see€para.€2.6).€€With€theÐ $à" Ðhelp€of€a€smuggler€the€author€left€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€illegally€via€the€Kurdish€mountainsÐ €%Ð # Ðto€Turkey.€€From€Ankara€he€went€legally€by€air€to€Germany€on€his€tourist€visa€and€was€thereafterÐ p&À!$ Ðtaken€by€car€to€Sweden€via€Denmark.Ð `'°"% ÐÌ2.10à  àThe€author€entered€Sweden€on€8€February€1998€and€applied€for€asylum€the€following€day.€Ð @)$' ÐThe€immigration€authorities€ordered€his€expulsion€to€Germany,€in€accordance€with€the€DublinÐ 0*€%( ÐConvention,€but€before€the€execution€of€the€expulsion,€the€author€escaped€to€Norway.€€From€NorwayÐ  +p&) Ðhe€was€returned€to€Sweden.€€He€was€again€expelled€from€Sweden€to€Germany€on9November€1998,Ð ,`'* Ðbut€subsequently€returned€to€Sweden€due€to€the€fact€that€he€had€been€outside€European€UnionÐ -P(+ Ðterritory€since€his€initial€arrival€on€German€territory.Ð ð-@), Ї2.11à  àThe€Swedish€Immigration€Board€rejected€the€authorððs€asylum€claim€on13September1999.€Ð ° ÐThe€authorððs€appeal€was€rejected€by€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€on4November€1999.Ð  ð ÐÌò òThe€complaint€ó óÐ €Ð ÐÌ3.1à  àIn€view€of€his€past€experiences€of€imprisonment€and€torture,€the€author€claims€that€there€existÐ ` ° Ðsubstantial€grounds€to€believe€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€torture€if€he€were€to€be€returned€to€theÐ P   ÐIslamic€Republic€of€Iran.€€His€forced€return€would€therefore€constitute€a€violation€by€Sweden€ofÐ @  Ðarticle€3€of€the€Convention.Ð 0 € ÐÌ3.2à  àIn€support€of€the€claim,€counsel€provides€several€medical€certificates.€€One€of€the€certificatesÐ `  Ðis€from€the€Centre€for€Torture€and€Trauma€Survivors€in€Stockholm,€stating€that€the€author€suffersÐ P  Ðfrom€a€post„traumatic€stress€disorder€and€that€both€medical€and€psychological€evidence€indicate€thatÐ ð@  Ðthe€author€has€been€subjected€to€torture€with€typical€psychological€effects€as€a€result.€€In€addition,Ð à0  Ða€certificate€from€a€psychiatrist€states€that€the€ð ðcircumstances,€together€with€[the€authorððs]€wholeÐ Ð  Ðattitude€and€general€appearance,€indicate€very€strongly€...€that€he€for€a€long€time€has€been€subjectedÐ À Ðto€severe€abuses€and€tortureðð€and€that€the€author€is€considered€ð ðcompletely€trustworthyðð.Ð ° ÐÌò òThe€State€partyððs€observations€on€admissibility€and€meritsó óÐ à ÐÌ4.1à  àBy€submission€of€21€December€1999,€the€State€party€informs€the€Committee€that,€followingÐ pÀ Ðthe€Committeeððs€request€under€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€the€SwedishÐ `° ÐImmigration€Board€decided€to€stay€the€expulsion€order€against€the€author€while€his€communicationÐ P  Ðis€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.Ð @ ÐÌ4.2à  àBy€submission€of€2€March€2000,€the€State€party€informs€the€Committee€that€it€does€not€raiseÐ  p Ðany€objection€as€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication.€€It€confirms€the€authorððs€account€of€theÐ ` Ðinternal€remedies€exhausted.Ð P ÐÌ4.3à  àWith€regard€to€the€general€situation€of€human€rights€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€the€StateÐ à0 Ðparty€notes€that€although€there€are€at€present€signs€that€Iranian€society€is€undergoing€changes€thatÐ Ð  Ðmay€entail€improvements€in€the€human€rights€field,€the€country€is€still€reported€to€be€a€major€abuserÐ À! Ðof€human€rights.Ð °"  ÐÌÑ  Ñ4.4à  àThe€State€party€further€states€that€it€refrains€from€making€an€evaluation€of€its€own€regardingÐ $à" Ðwhether€or€not€the€author€has€substantiated€his€claim€that€he€would€risk€being€tortured€if€expelled,Ð €%Ð # Ðand€leaves€it€to€the€discretion€of€the€Committee€to€determine€whether€the€case€reveals€a€violation€ofÐ p&À!$ Ðarticle€3€of€the€Convention.€€It€notes€that€in€its€jurisprudence,€the€Committee€has€observed€that€pastÐ `'°"% Ðtorture€is€one€of€the€elements€to€be€taken€into€account€when€examining€a€claim€under€article€3€of€theÐ P( #& ÐConvention€but€that€the€aim€of€the€Committeeððs€examination€is€to€determine€whether€the€authorÐ @)$' Ðwould€òòat€presentóó€be€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned.€€The€State€party€does€not€wishÐ 0*€%( Ðto€question€that€the€author€has€spent€some€time€in€prison,€nor€that€he€was€at€that€time€subjected€toÐ  +p&) Ðill„treatment.€€Without€making€an€assessment€of€its€own,€the€State€party€reminds€the€Committee€ofÐ ,`'* Ðthe€opinions€put€forward€by€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€and€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board.Ð -P(+ ÐÑ  ÑÐ ð-@), Ð4.5à  àThe€Swedish€Immigration€Board€rejected€the€authorððs€application€for€asylumÐ ° Ðon13September€1999,€on€the€basis€that€the€circumstances€invoked€by€the€author€lacked€credibility.€Ð  ð ÐThe€credibility€of€the€author€was€questioned€on€the€following€grounds:€€(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€the€fact€that€the€authorÐ à Ðhad€not€presented€his€Iranian€passport€or€any€other€travel€documents€to€the€Swedish€authorities;€(ii)Ð €Ð Ðthat€the€author€had€not€applied€for€asylum€either€in€Germany€or€in€Denmark,€indicating€that€he€couldÐ pÀ Ðnot€have€regarded€his€situation€in€his€home€country€as€particularly€serious;€(iii)€the€Board€found€itÐ ` ° Ðdifficult€to€believe€that€the€Iranian€security€police€wanted€someone€they€were€suspicious€of€to€actÐ P   Ðas€a€spy€for€them;€(iv)€the€circumstances€regarding€the€authorððs€escape€from€prison€were€notÐ @  Ðconsidered€credible;€and€finally€(v)€the€Board€questioned€the€authenticity€of€the€judgement€regardingÐ 0 € Ðcheck€fraud€submitted€by€the€author.Ð  p  ÐÌ4.6à  àThe€Aliens€Appeals€Board€dismissed€the€authorððs€appeal€on€4€November€1999.€€The€BoardÐ P  Ðfound€no€reason€to€question€the€authorððs€identity,€nor€did€it€question€that€the€author€had€beenÐ ð@  Ðsentenced€by€a€court€in€Tehran€for€check€fraud€in€accordance€with€the€submitted€judgement,€whichÐ à0  Ðthe€Swedish€Embassy€in€Tehran€had€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€examined€by€legal€experts€who€concluded€it€was€authentic.€Ð Ð  ÐThe€Aliens€Appeals€Board€does€not€rule€out€that€the€author€had€been€deprived€of€his€liberty€whileÐ À Ðunder€suspicion€for€check€fraud,€nor€that€he€had€served€a€prison€sentence€for€the€said€crime,€or€thatÐ ° Ðhe€had€been€ill„treated€during€his€imprisonment.€€In€all€other€aspects,€the€Aliens€Appeals€BoardÐ  ð Ðquestioned€the€credibility€of€the€author€on€the€same€grounds€as€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€andÐ à Ðin€the€light€of€the€submitted€medical€certificate€which€indicates€that€the€author€seems€completelyÐ €Ð Ðtrustworthy.Ð pÀ ÐÌ4.7à  àThe€Swedish€Embassy€in€Tehran€further€noted€that€check€fraud€cases€are€very€common€inÐ P  Ðthe€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€and€that€at€present€there€appears€to€be€thousands€of€such€cases€pendingÐ @ Ðbefore€the€courts€in€Tehran.€€The€Embassy€does€not€rule€out€the€possibility€that€on€the€whole,€theÐ 0€ Ðauthor€has€submitted€reliable€information€in€support€of€his€reluctance€to€return€to€his€country€ofÐ  p Ðorigin.€€With€regard€to€the€authorððs€passport,€the€Embassy€states€that€the€fact€that€a€person€has€legalÐ ` Ðproblems€with€the€Iranian€authorities€does€not€necessarily€mean€that€he€is€refused€a€passport,Ð P Ðwhereas€he€would€normally€not€obtain€an€exit€permit.Ð ð@ ÐÌ4.8à  àFinally,€the€State€party€points€out€that€the€author€claims€that€the€judgement€concerning€checkÐ Ð  Ðfraud€was€presented€to€him€in€February€or€March€1996,€after€he€had€spent€six€months€in€prison.€Ð À! ÐHowever,€it€appears€from€the€judgement€itself€that€it€was€given€on€6€June€1996.€€The€Aliens€AppealsÐ °"  ÐBoard€held€the€view€that€the€author€may€have€been€found€guilty€of€check€fraud€and€served€a€prisonÐ  #ð! Ðsentence€for€that€crime.Ð $à" ÐÌò òCounselððs€commentsó ó€Ð p&À!$ ÐÌ5.1à  àCounsel€notes€the€immigration€authoritiesðð€reference€to€the€fact€that€the€author€had€notÐ P( #& Ðpresented€his€travel€documents€and€that€it€therefore€cannot€be€excluded€that€the€author€had€destroyedÐ @)$' Ðhis€Iranian€passport€and€that€his€exit€from€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€was€legal.€€She€further€notesÐ 0*€%( Ðthat€the€authorities€do€not€find€it€credible€that€the€author€was€issued€a€passport€while€under€suspicionÐ  +p&) Ðby€the€Iranian€secret€police.€€With€regard€to€the€first€matter,€counsel€submits€that€rejection€by€theÐ ,`'* Ðimmigration€authorities€with€the€indication€that€the€author€may€have€destroyed€his€travel€documentsÐ -P(+ Ðin€bad€faith€is€a€common€phrase€automatically€used€to€question€the€general€veracity€of€a€claim.€€WithÐ ð-@), Ðregard€to€the€second,€counsel€reminds€the€Committee€that€the€author€has€given€a€plausibleÐ ° Ðexplanation€of€why€he€was€granted€a€passport€despite€being€under€surveillance€(see€para.€2.6).€Ð  ð ÐÌ5.2à  àWith€reference€to€the€immigration€authoritiesðð€argument€that€it€does€not€seem€likely€that€theÐ €Ð Ðsecret€police€would€use€a€person€under€surveillance€to€spy€for€them,€counsel€submits€that€it€isÐ pÀ Ðcommon€knowledge€that€in€dictatorships€the€secret€police€do€force€persons€over€whom€they€have€aÐ ` ° Ðhold€to€work€for€them€in€different€ways.Ð P   ÐÌ5.3à  àCounsel€notes€the€contradictions€with€regard€to€the€Swedish€Immigration€Boardððs€and€theÐ 0 € ÐAliens€Appeals€Boardððs€argumentation€concerning€the€judgement€for€check€fraud€presented€by€theÐ  p  Ðauthor.€€One€of€the€main€reasons€for€the€Immigration€Boardððs€doubts€as€to€the€credibility€of€theÐ `  Ðauthor€was€that€it€questioned€the€authenticity€of€the€judgement.€€When€it€was€ascertained,€throughÐ P  Ðthe€Swedish€Embassy€in€Tehran,€that€the€judgement€was€in€fact€authentic,€the€Aliens€Appeals€BoardÐ ð@  Ðin€turn€used€the€authenticity€of€the€document€as€an€argument€against€the€author,€indicating€that€theÐ à0  Ðauthor€had€been€imprisoned€for€check€fraud€and€had€not€been€persecuted€on€political€grounds.€Ð Ð  ÐCounsel€submits€that€the€use€of€false€charges€in€suppressive€States€in€general,€and€in€the€IslamicÐ À ÐRepublic€of€Iran€in€particular,€is€common€to€dispose€of€persons€seen€as€a€threat€against€the€State€andÐ ° Ðat€the€same€time€create€an€image€of€a€legitimate€rule€of€law.€€The€Committeeððs€attention€is€drawn€toÐ  ð Ðthe€fact€that€the€authorððs€account€in€this€respect€was€considered€not€credible€by€the€Aliens€AppealsÐ à ÐBoard€without€giving€any€reason€therefor.€€Counsel€further€points€out€that€for€the€author,€it€wasÐ €Ð Ðobvious€that€he€had€been€judged€on€false€charges,€which€was€why€he€presented€the€verdict€to€theÐ pÀ ÐSwedish€immigration€authorities€in€the€first€place.€€No€person€would€present€a€real€verdict€and€expectÐ `° Ðto€be€granted€asylum€on€that€ground€alone.Ð P  ÐÌ5.4à  àCounsel€recalls€that€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board€does€not€question€the€fact€that€the€author€hadÐ 0€ Ðbeen€imprisoned€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€nor€that€he€was€at€that€time€subjected€to€torture€andÐ  p Ðill„treatment.Ð ` ÐÌ5.5à  àWith€regard€to€the€authorððs€escape,€counsel€points€out€that€the€author€has€given€such€aÐ ð@ Ðdetailed€description€of€the€events€that€there€should€be€no€doubt€about€its€veracity.€€Details€were€alsoÐ à0 Ðgiven€to€the€examining€psychiatrist€who€in€his€medical€certificate€judged€the€author€to€be€completelyÐ Ð  Ðtrustworthy.Ð À! ÐÌ5.6à  àThe€authorities€question€why€the€author€did€not€apply€for€asylum€in€Germany€if,€as€claimed,Ð  #ð! Ðhe€feared€persecution€by€the€Iranian€authorities.€€Counsel€points€out€that€the€author€has€given€a€clearÐ $à" Ðand€plausible€explanation€of€why€he€did€not€do€so.€€The€author€would€not€have€been€able€to€get€hisÐ €%Ð # Ðpassport€renewed€or€a€tourist€visa€for€Germany€if€it€had€not€been€for€a€close€and€influential€friendÐ p&À!$ Ðof€the€authorððs€family€with€business€contacts€in€Germany.€€The€author€was€therefore€determined€notÐ `'°"% Ðto€seek€asylum€in€Germany€since€doing€so€would€likely€compromise€the€friend.€€The€author,€likeÐ P( #& Ðeveryone€else,€was€aware€that€immigration€authorities€in€Germany€and€elsewhere€take€note€of€theÐ @)$' Ðsponsor€of€a€person€who€seeks€asylum€after€having€been€granted€a€tourist€visa.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ5.7à  àFinally,€counsel€points€out€that€the€transcripts€of€the€one€and€only€interrogation€of€the€authorÐ ,`'* Ðby€the€Swedish€immigration€authorities€is€of€poor€quality.€€The€interpretation€and€translation€of€theÐ -P(+ Ðauthorððs€account€are€of€a€low€standard€and€even€the€Swedish€text€is€sometimes€incomprehensible.€Ð ð-@), ÐAccording€to€the€transcripts,€the€author€did€not€seem€to€be€allowed€to€tell€his€story€and€wasÐ ° Ðconstantly€interrupted€by€provocative€questions.€€The€torture€is€not€questioned.€€As€an€example€ofÐ  ð Ðthe€poor€translation,€counsel€points€to€an€instance€where€ð ðprosecutorðð€was€replaced€by€ð ðChairmanÐ à Ðof€the€Courtðð,€thereby€leading€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€initially€to€doubt€the€authenticity€ofÐ €Ð Ðthe€judgement.Ð pÀ ÐÌò òIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeó óÐ P   ÐÌ6.1à  àBefore€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ 0 € Ðmust€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€€The€Committee€hasÐ  p  Ðascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5(a),€of€the€Convention,€that€the€sameÐ `  Ðmatter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigationÐ P  Ðor€settlement.€€The€Committee€is€further€of€the€opinion€that€all€available€domestic€remedies€haveÐ ð@  Ðbeen€exhausted.€€The€Committee€finds€that€no€further€obstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€theÐ à0  Ðcommunication€exist.€€Since€both€the€State€party€and€the€author€have€provided€observations€on€theÐ Ð  Ðmerits€of€the€communication,€the€Committee€proceeds€immediately€with€the€consideration€of€thoseÐ À Ðmerits.Ð ° ÐÌ6.2à  àThe€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€author€to€the€IslamicÐ à ÐRepublic€of€Iran€would€violate€the€obligation€of€Sweden€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€not€toÐ €Ð Ðexpel€or€to€return€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€heÐ pÀ Ðor€she€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.Ð `° ÐÌ6.3à  àThe€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€whetherÐ @ Ðthere€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ 0€ Ðtorture€upon€return€to€Iran.€€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€allÐ  p Ðrelevant€considerations,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€including€the€existenceÐ ` Ðof€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€€The€aim€of€theÐ P Ðdetermination,€however,€is€to€establish€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€riskÐ ð@ Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€would€return.€€It€follows€that€the€existenceÐ à0 Ðof€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€asÐ Ð  Ðsuch€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€ofÐ À! Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€exist€to€show€thatÐ °"  Ðthe€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€patternÐ  #ð! Ðof€gross€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€dangerÐ $à" Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ6.4à  àThe€Committee€has€taken€note€of€the€arguments€presented€by€the€author€and€the€State€partyÐ `'°"% Ðand€is€of€the€opinion€that€it€has€not€been€given€enough€evidence€by€the€author€to€conclude€that€theÐ P( #& Ðlatter€would€run€a€personal,€real€and€foreseeable€risk€of€being€tortured€if€returned€to€his€country€ofÐ @)$' Ðorigin.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ7.à  àThe€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€ConventionÐ ,`'* Ðagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€considers€thatÐ -P(+ Ðthe€author€of€the€communication€has€not€substantiated€his€claim€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€tortureÐ ð-@), Ðupon€return€to€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€and€therefore€concludes€that€the€authorððs€removal€to€theÐ ° ÐIslamic€Republic€of€Iran€would€not€constitute€a€breach€by€the€State€party€under€article€3€of€theÐ  ð ÐConvention.€€Ô_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÐ à ÐÓ=Ó