’WPC“ –1$ŃĘĢ-Ęy)PšģėB—5ÆŠUa;Ś‘3.:~žŖ¾m+k±ōßbŸw ʲž)ɱ²Ē{x¾üų&"ņjs†ŖįŅÖм “~Ą3ė‘ŁQ†ÅPÆĒ=uæ2õįéĖ|*õ¤]į¦~PnÉHe.”™ĘLŠ£ ÅĪā$Ė:?"‚4&•"o¤AœŻ0j=,ŚÉG U²‰±F䕣ė·‘“Ķū§£ś×#ˆ„ó}²źŒM •ų¾F$zT$W»ė^Ō%Ķ—uę;>>g×ŖČÄ­ć †u˜ĀŃ&’BÕP™ĪŻ®~ā Ću­­+Ŗę„”m;÷R¬z2Śd9«xīøXÓĮ{]Öå9ép<JV-ŖAć%~ałJķšµŅz!sVq¹Ų“ō-©ēł÷føęķėæź„VzC†[jˆ˜rń|,ēo^>¹œ¾“ø‰¾šÆ @ėg)Ę䂳ŽĮå!—±/„śĮSŒ|o×LÅl·+`ū8:–60Ēēāeöį¹.wŲyEU¼ā“®ƒ[ś€;;M!ĪĀB»m’¼%õŲaC>ų³…8¦Św‚$°{`‡`šó;Ä1$@«¹4`y ²eēĖgXóaÜļ #Į¶UNw %Å 0:ĖN^ w4+: m<U@S˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 5e,,,,0(ÖĆ9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ōé. !½¾..|¤€10˜ŽI3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ(ČhH  Z‹(Times New Roman Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōņ ņCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREŠ ° ŠĢņņP.€E.€v.€FranceóóŠ ą ŠĢCommunication€No€193/2001Š pĄ ŠĢ21€November€2002Š P   ŠĢCAT/C/29/D/193/2001Š 0 € ŠĢĢVIEWSó óŠ P  ŠĢĢņņņņSubmitted€byóó:€Ms.€P.E.€(represented€by€counsel)€Š Š  ŠĢņņAlleged€victimóó:€Ms.€P.E.€Š ° ŠĢņņState€partyóó:€France€Š ą ŠĢņņDate€of€complaintóó:€24€September€2001€Š pĄ ŠĢņņDate€of€decisionóó:€21€November€2002€óóŠ P  ŠÓ  ÓĢĢņņThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andŠ  p ŠOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Š ` ŠĢņņMeetingóó€on€21€November€2002,€Š š@ ŠĢņņHaving€consideredóó€complaint€No.€193/2001,€submitted€to€the€Committee€against€Torture€underŠ Š  Šarticle€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orŠ Ą! ŠPunishment,€Š °"  ŠĢņņHaving€taken€into€accountóó€the€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€complaint€andŠ $ą" Šthe€State€party,€Š €%Š # ŠĢņņAdoptsóó€the€following:€Š `'°"% ŠĢĢņ ņņņŌUKUS.,ŌÓ  ÓŌ‡ XšXXXŌDecision€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionó óóóŌ#†XšXX Xš‡#ŌŌUS.,UK.,iŌŌUKUS.,Ōņ ņņņó óóóŌUS.,UK.,"ŌŠ 0*€%( ŠÓ{ÓĢĢ1.1€€The€complainant,€P.E.,€a€German€national,€born€on€26€May€1963€in€Frankfurt,€was€extraditedŠ -P(+ Šby€France€to€Spain€on€7€November€2001.€She€claims€that€she€was€the€victim€of€a€violation€by€FranceŠ š-@), Šof€article€15€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€TreatmentŠ ° Šor€Punishment.€She€is€represented€by€counsel.€Š  š ŠĢ1.2€€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmitted€theŠ €Š Šcomplaint€to€the€State€party€on€5€December€2001.€At€the€same€time,€in€pursuance€of€rule€108€of€itsŠ pĄ Šrules€of€procedure,€the€Committee€requested€the€State€party€not€to€extradite€the€complainant€to€SpainŠ ` ° Šwhile€her€complaint€was€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€ņņ1óó/€Š P   ŠĢņņņ ņThe€facts€as€submittedó óóóŠ 0 € ŠĢ2.1€€In€November€1996,€ņņ2óó/€the€complainant€was€arrested€in€the€Landes€region€in€the€company€of€herŠ `  Špartner,€Juan€Luis€Agirre€Lete,€during€a€French€customs€check,€and€placed€in€pre-trial€detention€inŠ P  ŠParis.€Following€her€arrest,€she€was€sentenced€to€30€months'€imprisonment€on€23€February€1999€onŠ š@  Šcharges€of€participating€in€a€conspiracy€as€an€alleged€member€of€the€Basque€separatist€organization,Š ą0  ŠEuskadi€Ta€Askatasuna€(ETA).€ņņ3óó/€Š Š  ŠĢ2.2€€As€soon€as€she€was€arrested,€in€November€1996,€the€Spanish€authorities€made€a€first€request€forŠ ° Šher€extradition,€but€the€request€was€later€withdrawn€on€grounds€of€mistaken€identity.€A€secondŠ  š Šrequest€for€extradition€was€lodged€by€the€Spanish€authorities€a€year€later,€alleging€cooperation€withŠ ą Šan€armed€group,€on€the€basis€of€evidence€that€was€claimed€to€be€questionable€but€was€given€aŠ €Š Šfavourable€reception€by€the€French€authorities.€Š pĄ ŠĢ2.3€€A€third€request€for€extradition€ņņ4óó/€was€lodged€by€Spain€on€the€basis€of€a€statement€made€by€aŠ P  Šcertain€Mikel€Azurmendi€Penagarikano,€who€was€arrested€in€Seville€on€21€March€1998€by€theŠ @ ŠSpanish€Civil€Guard€and€who€is€alleged€to€have€suffered€a€variety€of€treatments€in€breach€of€theŠ 0€ ŠConvention€while€being€held.€The€complainant€adds€that€Mr.€Azurmendi's€partner€was€arrested€atŠ  p Šthe€same€time€as€he€was€and€also€suffered€treatment€in€breach€of€the€Convention.€Š ` ŠĢ2.4€€While€in€custody,€Mikel€Azurmendi€is€reported€to€have€made€two€statements€under€duress€toŠ š@ Šthe€Civil€Guard€on€23€and€24€March€1998.€In€these€statements,€which€are€said€to€contain€manyŠ ą0 Šcontradictions€and€implausibilities,€the€complainant€was€implicated,€with€some€30€others,€as€aŠ Š  Šmember€of€ETA's€"Madrid€Commando",€and€accused€of€carrying€out,€together€with€others,Š Ą! Šsurveillance€and€checks€on€the€route€taken€in€Madrid€by€a€van€belonging€to€the€general€staff€of€theŠ °"  ŠSpanish€air€force,€with€the€aim€of€carrying€out€an€act€of€violence,€and€of€participating,€together€withŠ  #š! Šothers,€in€the€preparation€of€an€explosive€device€placed€on€board€a€vehicle€that€was€used€by€otherŠ $ą" Šmembers€of€the€commando€in€an€attempted€act€of€violence€on€25€January€1994.€The€complainantŠ €%Š # Šnevertheless€maintains€that€she€had€long€since€left€Madrid€at€the€time€of€the€events.€Š p&Ą!$ ŠĢ2.5€€Concerning€the€circumstances€in€which€these€statements€were€made,€the€complainant€producesŠ P( #& Šan€excerpt€from€Mr.€Azurmendi's€testimony:€Š @)$' ŠĢą0  ąI€am€writing€this€letter€to€you€to€denounce€the€treatment€inflicted€by€the€Spanish€securityŠ  +p&) Šforces,€more€specifically€the€Civil€Guard,€at€the€time€of€my€arrest€(in€Seville),€and€during€theŠ ,`'* Štransfer€to€the€Madrid€station€and€my€stay€there.€Concerning€my€arrest,€it€occurred€on€JosŠ -P(+ ŠLaquillo€Street,€No.€5,€first€floor,€door€B.€They€immobilized€me€and€handcuffed€me,€theyŠ š-@), Šdidn't€stop€rubbing€my€nose€in€the€dirt,€they€beat€me€and€continuously€threatened€me.€AfterŠ ° Šhaving€read€me€my€rights,€one€person€(a€prison€inspection€judge)€ordered€them€to€change€myŠ  š Šhandcuffs.€They€did€so€in€front€of€him€and€just€after€taking€me€down€to€the€car,€they€putŠ ą Šother€handcuffs€on€me,€tightening€them€as€much€as€possible,€hurting€my€wrists€and€causingŠ €Š Šinjuries€which€are€still€visible.€They€only€took€them€off€once€we€arrived€at€the€police€cells.Š pĄ ŠApart€from€the€pain€caused€by€the€handcuffs,€they€beat€me€on€the€head€and€the€ribs,€andŠ ` ° Šsqueezed€my€testicles;€they€pretended€to€fire€a€gun,€pressing€the€barrel€against€my€head€andŠ P   Šfiring€several€times.€They€beat€me€to€the€point€of€causing€a€sprained€ankle.€All€that€happenedŠ @  Šduring€the€journey€from€Seville€to€Madrid.€Š0 €(#(# ŠĢą0  ąOnce€we€arrived€in€Madrid,€they€made€me€walk,€but€my€leg€was€no€longer€working€andŠ `  Ševery€time€I€tried,€I€fell€down.€They€continued€to€beat€me€because€of€that,€forcing€me€to€tryŠ P  Šagain€each€time€I€was€on€the€ground,€until€they€saw€that€I€could€no€longer€walk€and€they€ledŠ š@  Šme€to€the€cells.€There€they€told€me€they€were€leaving€me€for€a€moment€so€that€my€bloodŠ ą0  Šcirculation€could€return€to€normal.€ŠŠ (#(# ŠĢą0  ąA€little€later,€they€came€and€forced€me€to€get€up,€still€with€my€eyes€blindfolded.€From€thenŠ ° Šon,€they€began€to€beat€my€ankle,€slapped€me,€hit€me€on€the€nape€of€the€neck€and€made€allŠ  š Škinds€of€threats.€After€a€time,€I€can't€say€how€many€hours,€they€took€me€to€casualty€to€haveŠ ą Šmy€ankle€injury€examined.€Once€I€was€there,€I€was€diagnosed€with€a€sprain,€they€put€aŠ €Š Šbandage€on€me€and€advised€me€to€put€ice€on€it€to€relieve€the€pain€and€keep€my€foot€raised.€ŠpĄ(#(# ŠĢą0  ąWhen€the€Civil€Guards€took€me€back€to€the€Civil€Guard€station,€they€beat€me€again,€causingŠ P  Ša€further€injury,€and€pushed€me€and€hit€me€so€much€on€the€injured€foot€that€they€broke€myŠ @ Šbig€toe.€Š0€(#(# ŠĢą0  ąThey€subjected€me€to€a€long€session€of€questioning,€including€beatings,€pulling€out€tufts€ofŠ ` Šmy€beard€and€using€an€object€which€gave€me€electric€shocks€in€the€penis,€the€stomach€andŠ P Šthe€chest.€And€as€if€that€wasn't€enough,€they€used€another€method€-€the€plastic€bag.€ThisŠ š@ Šinvolved€putting€a€plastic€bag€over€my€head,€tightening€it€round€my€neck€and€suffocating€me.Š ą0 ŠThey€did€this€several€times,€together€with€the€electric€shocks.€Each€time€I€passed€out,€theyŠ Š  Šleft€me€alone€for€a€while€to€recover,€then€they€started€again.€ŠĄ!(#(# ŠĢą0  ąAfter€all€of€that,€they€took€me€to€casualty,€a€different€place€from€before,€because€the€journeyŠ  #š! Šwas€much€shorter,€I€guessed€it€must€be€close€to€the€police€station.€During€the€journey,€theyŠ $ą" Šconstantly€threatened€me,€telling€me:€"You€don't€know€where€we€are€taking€you",€"You'reŠ €%Š # Šgoing€to€the€hills€to€dig€your€own€grave"€[š8š].€Šp&Ą!$(#(# ŠĢą0  ąWhen€we€got€back,€they€continued€to€threaten€me.€This€time,€they€mentioned€my€sister:€ifŠ P( #& ŠI€didn't€talk,€they€would€go€and€fetch€her€and€she€would€pay€because€of€me€-€it€was€up€to€meŠ @)$' Š[š8š].€Š0*€%((#(# ŠĢą0  ąThen€they€started€to€make€threats€against€my€partner€Ō_ŌMaiteŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌPEDROSAŌ_Ō€(arrested€at€the€sameŠ ,`'* Štime€as€I€was),€that€they€were€going€to€rape€her,€that€she€was€in€a€very€bad€way,€[š8š]€withŠ -P(+ Šthreats€like:€"we€are€filling€the€bath".€And€that€if€I€continued€to€show€off€[sic],€they€wouldŠ š-@), Šgive€me€the€bath€treatment.€The€beatings€never€stopped€during€the€time€I€spent€in€the€policeŠ ° Šstation,€especially€blows€to€my€sprained€ankle,€and€beatings€and€slaps€to€the€head.€Š š(#(# ŠĢą0  ąAt€the€end,€they€told€me€that€they€were€taking€me€to€the€National€High€Court€to€make€aŠ €Š Šstatement€and€that€in€the€afternoon€I€would€have€to€go€back€with€them€to€look€at€someŠ pĄ Šphotos,€and€that€the€treatment€would€therefore€depend€on€what€I€said€in€my€statement€inŠ ` ° Šcourt.€ŠP  (#(# ŠĢą0  ąDuring€almost€all€the€time€I€was€being€questioned,€I€was€blindfolded,€and€when€I€wasn't,€theyŠ 0 € Šforced€me€to€lower€my€head,€even€though€I€was€able€to€see€the€head€of€one€of€them€twice€andŠ  p  ŠI€could€recognize€him.€Alcala€de€Henares€prison,€7€April€1998.Š` (#(# ŠĢ2.6€€At€the€end€of€his€period€in€custody,€on€25€March€1998,€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€appeared€beforeŠ š@  Šexamining€magistrate€No.€6€of€the€National€High€Court€in€Madrid.€He€lodged€a€complaint€relatingŠ ą0  Što€the€torture€to€which€he€had€been€subjected€during€his€time€in€custody€and€retracted€his€earlierŠ Š  Šstatements.€This€complaint€is€still€being€investigated.€Š Ą ŠĢ2.7€€While€being€held€in€Madrid€prison,€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€was€also€examined€by€the€prison€medicalŠ  š Šservices,€and€a€court-ordered€medical€report€was€delivered€on€18€October€1998.€These€medicalŠ ą Šreports€and€the€testimony€of€a€number€of€detainees€arrested€on€the€same€day€as€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_ŌŠ €Š Šcorroborate€his€allegations€of€torture€and€ill-treatment.€Š pĄ ŠĢ2.8€€After€the€complainant€had€been€implicated€in€the€statements€made€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€on€23€andŠ P  Š24€March€1998,€the€Spanish€procurator's€office€stipulated€that€proceedings€against€the€complainantŠ @ Šwould€be€subject€to€the€evidence.€As€the€results€were€negative,€Mr.€Ō_ŌIsmaelŌ_Ō€Moreno€Ō_ŌChamaroŌ_Ō,€centralŠ 0€ Šexamining€magistrate€No.€2€attached€to€the€National€High€Court€in€Madrid,€issued€an€order€on€29Š  p ŠOctober€1998€that€the€complainant€should€be€imprisoned€and€committed€for€trial.€On€that€basis,€theŠ ` Šjudge€issued€a€request€for€the€extradition€of€the€complainant€on€22€December€1998.€By€means€of€aŠ P Šnote€Ō_ŌverbaleŌ_Ō€dated€10€March€1999,€the€Spanish€Government,€through€its€embassy,€requested€theŠ š@ ŠFrench€authorities€to€extradite€the€complainant.€On€15€June€1999,€she€was€placed€in€detentionŠ ą0 Špending€extradition€in€Ō_ŌFresnesŌ_Ō€prison.€The€request€for€extradition€was€heard€in€public€session€on€24Š Š  ŠMay€2000€by€the€first€indictment€division€of€the€Paris€Court€of€Appeal€which,€on€21€June€2000,Š Ą! Šruled€partially€ņņ5óó/€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€of€extradition€in€respect€of€the€acts€described€by€Spain€as€19€attemptedŠ °"  Šterrorist€murders.€Š  #š! ŠĢ2.9€€The€complainant€emphasizes€that€the€request€for€extradition€did€not€contain€a€copy€of€theŠ €%Š # Šstatement€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€made€on€25€March€1998€to€the€examining€magistrate€of€the€NationalŠ p&Ą!$ ŠHigh€Court.€In€that€regard,€the€complainant's€counsel€argued€before€the€indictment€division€of€theŠ `'°"% ŠParis€Court€of€Appeal€that€it€was€unacceptable€that,€since€the€charges€carried€very€severe€prisonŠ P( #& Šterms,€the€requesting€State€had€not€mentioned€the€statement€in€which€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€retractedŠ @)$' Ševerything€that€he€had€said€and€also€stated€that€he€did€not€know€the€complainant.€Š 0*€%( ŠĢ2.10€€The€counsel€also€argued:€Š ,`'* ŠĢą0  ą[Ō_ŌT]heŌ_Ō€medical€examinations€carried€out€while€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€was€in€custody€and€was€beingŠ š-@), Štransported€to€the€hospital€casualty€department,€the€statements€made€on€25€March€1998,€theŠ ° Šofficial€medical€observations€recorded€on€his€arrival€at€Madrid€prison,€the€medical€reportŠ  š Šprovided€on€18€October€1998,€the€complaint€lodged€and€the€testimony€of€certain€personsŠ ą Šdetained€the€same€day€show€that€he€was€subjected€to€ill-treatment€while€being€questioned€byŠ €Š Šthe€Civil€Guard.€Such€treatment,€apart€from€being€clearly€in€violation€of€domesticŠ pĄ Šinstruments€in€any€State€governed€by€the€rule€of€law,€is€further€prohibited€by€the€internationalŠ ` ° Šconventions€that€France€has€ratified,€in€particular€by€article€3€of€the€European€ConventionŠ P   Šfor€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights€and€Fundamental€Freedoms,€which€provides€that€no€oneŠ @  Šshall€be€subjected€to€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment.€Still€more€specifically,€theŠ 0 € ŠConvention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€orŠ  p  ŠPunishment€provides€(art.€15)€that:€"Each€State€party€shall€ensure€that€any€statement€whichŠ `  Šis€established€to€have€been€made€as€a€result€of€torture€shall€not€be€invoked€as€evidence€in€anyŠ P  Šproceedings,€except€against€a€person€accused€of€torture€as€evidence€that€the€statement€wasŠ š@  Šmade."€In€this€case,€the€statements€made€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō,€who€is€established€to€have€beenŠ ą0  Šsubjected€to€ill-treatment€while€held€in€custody,€clearly€cannot€serve€as€a€legal€basis€forŠ Š  Šproceedings€against€[P.E.].ŠĄ(#(# ŠĢ2.11€€The€indictment€division€of€the€Paris€Court€of€Appeal€replied€as€follows€in€its€decision€of€21Š  š ŠJune€2000:€Š ą ŠĢą0  ąIn€view€of€the€fact€that€it€is€not€the€task€of€the€court€to€find€whether€the€factual€elements€citedŠ pĄ Šby€the€requesting€authority€have€been€proven,€but€to€consider€whether€those€elementsŠ `° Šconstitute€a€criminal€offence€in€the€requesting€State€and€in€the€requested€State;€[š8š]€in€viewŠ P  Šof€the€fact€that,€while€it€is€true€that€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€implicated€[P.E.],€he€did€not€do€so€as€a€resultŠ @ Šof€violence€but,€according€to€the€evidence€supplied€by€the€requesting€State,€in€the€CivilŠ 0€ ŠGuard€station,€in€the€presence€of€a€lawyer;€in€view€of€the€fact€that€the€court€cannot€seek€toŠ  p Šsecure€the€documents€forming€part€of€the€Spanish€proceedings€in€order€to€substitute€itself€forŠ ` Šthe€authorities€of€the€requesting€State€in€their€analysis;€it€is€sufficient€that,€as€in€the€presentŠ P Šcase,€the€court€should€possess€sufficiently€precise€information€to€enable€it€to€determine€theŠ š@ Šexistence€of€suspicions€so€as€to€allow€it€to€apply€the€principle€of€dual€criminality.Šą0(#(# ŠĢ2.12€€On€17€May€2000,€the€German€section€of€Action€of€Christians€for€the€Abolition€of€TortureŠ Ą! Š(Ō_ŌACATŌ_Ō)€wrote€to€the€French€Government€requesting€it€not€to€extradite€the€complainant€to€Spain.€OnŠ °"  Š23€May€2000,€many€organizations,€associations€and€public€figures€sent€an€open€letter€to€the€FrenchŠ  #š! Šauthorities€along€the€same€lines.€Š $ą" ŠĢ2.13€€On€29€September€2000,€the€French€Government€issued€a€decree€granting€extradition€of€theŠ p&Ą!$ Šcomplainant€to€the€Spanish€authorities.€On€3€January€2001,€the€complainant€appealed€against€theŠ `'°"% Šdecree€to€the€Council€of€State.€In€a€statement€of€case€presented€to€the€Council€of€State,€counsel€forŠ P( #& Šthe€complainant€reiterated€the€arguments€presented€to€the€indictment€division,€adding:€Š @)$' ŠĢą0  ą[Ō_ŌI]nŌ_Ō€response€to€the€argument€concerning€a€breach€of€French€public€order,€the€(French)Š  +p&) ŠMinister€(of€Justice)€does€not€dispute€any€of€the€circumstances€described€by€the€plaintiff,€inŠ ,`'* Šparticular:€Š-P(+(#(# ŠŠ š-@), Š-€The€fact€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€made€while€being€questioned€by€the€Civil€GuardŠ ° Šauthorities,€which€inter€alia€implicated€Ms.€[P.E.],€were€subsequently€retracted€before€the€examiningŠ  š Šmagistrate;€Š ą ŠĢ-€That€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€was€transported€to€casualty€at€the€end€of€his€period€in€custody€because€he€hadŠ pĄ Šbeen€subjected€to€ill-treatment€during€questioning€by€the€Civil€Guard.€Š ` ° ŠĢą0  ąAccording€to€the€administration's€statement€of€case,€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€did€notŠ @  Šconstitute€a€breach€of€French€public€order€because€they€were€taken€freely€in€the€presence€ofŠ 0 € Ša€lawyer€from€the€Madrid€bar.€In€fact,€there€is€nothing€to€confirm€that€this€was€the€case,€orŠ  p  Ševen€that€a€lawyer€was€continuously€present€while€he€was€held€in€custody,€from€theŠ `  Šbeginning€to€the€end€of€the€questioning;€ŠP (#(# ŠĢą0  ąSo€that,€while€a€lawyer€from€the€Madrid€bar€may€have€assisted€the€person€concerned€at€someŠ ą0  Štime€while€he€was€being€held€in€custody,€this€circumstance€in€no€way€rules€out€the€possibilityŠ Š  Šthat€the€suspicions€against€the€plaintiff€were€gathered€in€a€manner€contrary€to€French€publicŠ Ą Šorder.а(#(# ŠĢThe€Council€of€State€rejected€this€appeal€by€a€decision€dated€7€November€2001.€The€complainantŠ ą Šwas€handed€over€to€the€Spanish€authorities€on€the€same€day.€Š €Š ŠĢņ ņņņThe€complaintóóó óŠ `° ŠĢ3.1€€The€complainant€considers€that€her€extradition€to€Spain€constitutes€a€violation€of€article€15€ofŠ @ Šthe€Convention€insofar€as€the€charges€brought€against€her€by€the€Spanish€authorities€were€based€onŠ 0€ Šstatements€made€as€a€result€of€torture.€Š  p ŠĢ3.2€€Article€15€of€the€Convention€is€one€of€the€corollaries€of€the€absolute€prohibition€of€torture€onŠ P Šwhich€this€Convention€against€Torture€is€based.€The€first€part€of€the€article€is€designed€to€depriveŠ š@ Šthe€practice€of€torture€of€any€value€when€inflicted€on€a€person€for€such€purposes€as€obtaining€fromŠ ą0 Šhim€or€a€third€person€information€or€a€confession.€In€that€context,€statements€obtained€as€a€result€ofŠ Š  Štorture€must€be€declared€absolutely€null.€Š Ą! ŠĢ3.3€€This€provision€is€applicable€to€any€court€or€non-court€proceedings,€particularly€penal€orŠ  #š! Šadministrative€proceedings.€Hence€it€is€applicable€in€this€case€to€extradition€proceedings.€Š $ą" ŠĢ3.4€€The€complainant€holds€that€several€criteria€must€be€satisfied€if€a€State€party€is€to€be€found€toŠ p&Ą!$ Šhave€violated€article€15€of€the€Convention.€Š `'°"% ŠĢ-€It€must€be€established€that€the€statement€cited€as€evidence€in€the€proceedings€in€question€wasŠ @)$' Šobtained€as€a€result€of€torture.€Š 0*€%( ŠĢ-€The€statement€in€question€must€be€an€essential€element€of€the€charges€brought€against€the€authorŠ ,`'* Šof€the€communication.€Š -P(+ ŠŠ š-@), Š-€Article€15€of€the€Convention€imposes€an€absolute€obligation€on€the€courts€and€authorities€of€theŠ ° ŠState€in€question€to€assemble€and€examine,€in€an€objective,€fair€and€thorough€manner,€all€theŠ  š Šelements€needed€to€establish€that€the€statement€was€obtained€unlawfully.€Š ą ŠĢ-€It€follows€from€article€15€of€the€Convention€that€the€statement€at€issue€should€be€declaredŠ pĄ Šabsolutely€null€by€the€courts€and€authorities€of€the€State€in€question.€Š ` ° ŠĢ-€It€is€also€necessary,€in€extradition€proceedings,€to€determine€whether€torture€is€Ō_ŌpractisedŌ_Ō€in€theŠ @  Šrequesting€State,€and€to€examine€the€circumstances€in€which€the€statement€at€issue€was€obtained€andŠ 0 € Šwhether€statements€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture€are€customarily€accepted€by€the€courts€of€theŠ  p  Šrequesting€State.€Š `  ŠĢ3.5€€In€this€case,€all€these€criteria€have€been€satisfied:€Š š@  ŠĢ3.5.1€€According€to€the€complainant,€it€has€been€established€beyond€all€reasonable€doubt€that€ņņMr.Š Š  ŠŌ_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€cited€as€evidence€in€the€proceedings€in€question€were€obtained€as€a€resultŠ Ą Šof€tortureóó.€Š ° ŠĢ3.5.2€€As€regards€the€assistance€of€a€court-appointed€lawyer€while€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€was€being€heldŠ ą Šin€custody€-€the€argument€invoked€by€the€State€party€to€refute€these€allegations€-€the€complainantŠ €Š Šemphasizes€that,€under€Spain's€special€anti-terrorist€legislation,€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€was€arrested€and€heldŠ pĄ Šin€custody€incommunicado,€that€is,€cut€off€from€any€contact€with€a€lawyer€of€his€choice€or€a€closeŠ `° Šrelative.€This€status€was€extended€even€when€he€appeared€in€court€on€25€March€1998.€Š P  ŠĢ3.5.3€€The€complainant€explains€in€this€regard€that€the€machinery€for€protecting€persons€implicatedŠ 0€ Šin€terrorist€cases€and€held€by€the€Spanish€security€forces€is€well€known€to€be€inadequate:€Š  p ŠĢ-€Such€persons€have€no€access€to€a€lawyer€of€their€choice€while€in€custody€or€even,€in€some€cases,Š P Šwhen€appearing€before€the€examining€magistrate;€Š š@ ŠĢ-€During€the€period€of€custody,€the€court-appointed€lawyer€is€present€only€when€"official"€statementsŠ Š  Šare€made€before€members€of€the€Spanish€security€forces;€the€court-appointed€lawyer€is€never€presentŠ Ą! Šthroughout€the€period€of€custody;€specifically,€he€does€not€attend€all€the€questioning€sessions.ņņ6óó/Š °"  ŠĢ3.5.4€€In€this€regard,€after€considering€the€third€periodic€report€submitted€by€Spain,€on€18€and€19Š $ą" ŠNovember€1997,€the€Committee€against€Torture€made€the€following€observations:€Š €%Š # ŠĢą0  ąThe€Committee€continued€to€receive€frequent€complaints€of€acts€of€torture€and€ill-treatmentŠ `'°"% Šduring€the€period€covered€by€the€report.€[š8š]€Notwithstanding€the€legal€guarantees€as€to€theŠ P( #& Šconditions€under€which€it€can€be€imposed,€there€are€cases€of€prolonged€detentionŠ @)$' Šincommunicado,€when€the€detainee€cannot€receive€the€assistance€of€a€lawyer€of€his€choice,Š 0*€%( Šwhich€seems€to€facilitate€the€practice€of€torture.€Most€of€these€complaints€concern€tortureŠ  +p&) Šinflicted€during€such€periods.€The€Committee€is€also€concerned€about€reports€that€although,Š ,`'* Šin€accordance€with€article€15€of€the€Convention,€judges€do€not€accept€as€incriminatingŠ -P(+ Ševidence€statements€regarded€as€invalid€because€they€have€been€obtained€under€duress€orŠ š-@), Štorture,€they€nevertheless€accept€those€same€statements€as€incriminating€other€co-defendants.Š ° Š[š8š]€Consideration€should€be€given€to€eliminating€instances€in€which€extended€detentionŠ  š Šincommunicado€and€restrictions€of€the€rights€of€detainees€to€be€assisted€by€a€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€lawyerŠ ą Šof€their€choice€are€authorized.Š€Š(#(# ŠĢ3.5.5€€The€observations€made€by€the€Committee€against€Torture€on€9€November€1999€in€connectionŠ ` ° Šwith€communication€No.€63/1997€submitted€by€Ō_ŌJosuŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAranaŌ_Ō€against€France€should€also€beŠ P   Šborne€in€mind.€In€this€decision,€which€was€made€public€on€1€December€1999,€the€Committee€notedŠ @  Šin€particular€Š 0 € ŠĢą0  ą[Ō_ŌD]uringŌ_Ō€the€consideration€of€the€third€periodic€report€submitted€by€Spain€under€article€19Š `  Šof€the€Convention,€it€had€expressed€its€concern€regarding€the€complaints€of€acts€of€tortureŠ P  Šand€ill-treatment€which€it€frequently€received.€It€also€noted€that,€notwithstanding€the€legalŠ š@  Šguarantees€as€to€the€conditions€under€which€it€could€be€imposed,€there€were€cases€ofŠ ą0  Šprolonged€detention€incommunicado,€when€the€detainee€could€not€receive€the€assistance€ofŠ Š  Ša€lawyer€of€his€choice€(emphasis€added),€which€seemed€to€facilitate€the€practice€of€torture.Š Ą ŠMost€of€the€complaints€received€concerned€torture€inflicted€during€such€periods.€SimilarŠ ° Šconcerns€had€already€been€expressed€during€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€reportŠ  š Šby€the€Committee,€as€well€as€in€the€concluding€observations€of€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeŠ ą Šregarding€the€fourth€periodic€report€submitted€by€Spain€under€article€40€of€the€InternationalŠ €Š ŠCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights.€Furthermore,€the€European€Committee€for€theŠ pĄ ŠPrevention€of€Torture€(CPT)€also€reported€complaints€of€torture€or€ill-treatment€receivedŠ `° Šduring€its€visits€to€Spain€in€1991€and€1994,€in€particular€from€persons€detained€for€terroristŠ P  Šactivities.€The€CPT€concluded€that€it€would€be€premature€to€affirm€that€torture€and€severeŠ @ Šill-treatment€had€been€eradicated€in€Spain.Š0€(#(# ŠĢ3.5.6€€After€considering€the€fourth€periodic€report€submitted€by€Spain,€the€Human€Rights€CommitteeŠ ` Šemphasized,€in€its€observations€dated€3€April€1996:€Š P ŠĢą0  ą[š8š]€12.€The€Committee€expresses€concern€at€the€maintenance€on€a€continuous€basis€ofŠ ą0 Šspecial€legislation€under€which€persons€suspected€of€belonging€to€or€collaborating€withŠ Š  Šarmed€groups€may€be€detained€incommunicado€for€up€to€five€days,€may€not€have€a€lawyerŠ Ą! Šof€their€own€choosing€and€are€judged€by€the€Ō_ŌAudienciaŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌNacionalŌ_Ō€without€possibility€ofŠ °"  Šappeal.€The€Committee€emphasizes€that€these€provisions€are€not€in€conformity€with€articlesŠ  #š! Š9€and€14€of€the€Covenant.€[š8š]€Š$ą"(#(# ŠĢą0  ąE.€Suggestions€and€recommendations€Šp&Ą!$(#(# ŠĢą0  ą[š8š]€18.€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€legislative€provisions,€which€state€that€personsŠ P( #& Šaccused€of€acts€of€terrorism€or€suspected€of€collaborating€with€such€persons€may€not€chooseŠ @)$' Štheir€lawyer,€should€be€rescinded.€It€urges€the€State€party€to€abandon€the€use€ofŠ 0*€%( Šincommunicado€detention€and€invites€it€to€reduce€the€duration€of€pre-trial€detention€and€toŠ  +p&) Šstop€using€duration€of€the€applicable€penalty€as€a€criterion€for€determining€the€maximumŠ ,`'* Šduration€of€pre-trial€detention.Š-P(+(#(# ŠŠ š-@), Š3.5.7€€Similarly,€the€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€(CPT)€considers€that€thereŠ ° Šare€serious€inadequacies€in€protection€against€torture€and€other€severe€ill-treatment€of€persons€heldŠ  š Šin€custody€by€the€Spanish€security€forces€as€a€part€of€anti-ETA€operations.€In€that€regard,€theŠ ą ŠCommittee€places€particular€emphasis€on€recognition€of€three€rights€denied€by€the€SpanishŠ €Š Šauthorities€to€persons€held€by€the€security€forces:€Š pĄ ŠĢ-€The€right€of€the€person€concerned€to€inform€a€close€relative€or€another€third€party€of€his€or€herŠ P   Šsituation;€Š @  ŠĢ-€The€right€of€access€to€a€lawyer€of€one's€choice;€Š  p  ŠĢ-€The€right€to€be€examined€by€a€doctor€of€one's€choice.€Š P  ŠĢIn€the€view€of€CPT,€these€rights€constitute€three€fundamental€safeguards€against€ill-treatment€thatŠ ą0  Šshould€apply€from€the€outset€of€custody€(that€is,€as€soon€as€the€security€forces€deprive€the€personŠ Š  Šconcerned€of€his€or€her€freedom€of€movement).€Š Ą ŠĢ3.5.8€€According€to€the€complainant,€ņņthe€statement€at€issue€is€the€essential€element€of€the€chargeŠ  š Šagainst€heróó.€It€is€clear€from€a€study€of€the€proceedings€that€the€sole€item€of€evidence€produced€byŠ ą Šthe€Spanish€authorities€in€requesting€the€extradition€of€the€complainant€for€the€third€time€is€basedŠ €Š Šon€the€statements€made€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€on€23€and€24€March€1998€while€being€held€in€custodyŠ pĄ Šby€the€Civil€Guard.€It€was€on€the€basis€of€these€statements€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture€that€theŠ `° Šindictment€division€of€the€Paris€Court€of€Appeal€ruled€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€of€extradition€on€21€June€2000€andŠ P  Šthe€French€Government€issued€an€extradition€decree€on€29€September€2000.€Š @ ŠĢ3.5.9€€According€to€the€complainant,€ņņthe€French€authorities€and€courts€failed€to€assemble€andŠ  p Šexamine,€in€an€objective,€fair€and€thorough€manner,€all€the€elements€needed€to€establish€that€theŠ ` Šstatement€at€issue€was€obtained€unlawfullyóó.€It€is€clear€that€the€complaint€concerning€torture€madeŠ P Šby€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€on€25€March€1998€when€he€appeared€before€the€examining€magistrate€wasŠ š@ Šignored€by€the€French€courts€and€authorities.€Similarly,€the€medical€evidence€establishing€beyondŠ ą0 Ša€doubt€that€the€statements€made€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€while€in€custody€were€obtained€as€a€result€ofŠ Š  Štorture€were€systematically€ignored€by€the€French€authorities€and€courts.€Moreover,€the€FrenchŠ Ą! Šcourts€systematically€refused€to€approach€the€Spanish€authorities€in€order€to€obtain€any€additionalŠ °"  Šinformation€that€might€have€confirmed€that€the€statements€in€question€had€not€been€obtained€as€aŠ  #š! Šresult€of€torture.€Š $ą" ŠĢ3.5.10€€According€to€the€complainant,€ņņMr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€were€not€declared€to€beŠ p&Ą!$ Šabsolutely€null€by€the€French€authorities€and€courtsóó.€Although€it€has€been€established€that€Mr.Š `'°"% ŠŌ_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€were€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture,€these€statements€form€the€basis€of€theŠ P( #& Š21€June€2000€ruling€handed€down€by€the€indictment€division€of€the€Paris€Court€of€Appeal€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_ŌŠ @)$' Šof€the€Spanish€authorities'€third€request€for€extradition,€and€the€extradition€decree€issued€by€theŠ 0*€%( ŠFrench€Government€on€29€September€2000.€Yet€under€article€15€of€the€Convention€against€Torture,Š  +p&) Šthese€unlawfully€obtained€declarations€should€have€been€declared€absolutely€null.€Š ,`'* ŠĢ3.5.11€€Lastly,€it€is€also€necessary€in€extradition€proceedings€to€determine€ņņwhether€torture€isŠ š-@), ŠŌ_ŌpractisedŌ_Ō€in€the€requesting€State,€and€whether€statements€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture€areŠ ° Šcustomarily€accepted€by€the€courts€of€the€requesting€Stateóó.€Š  š ŠĢ3.5.12€€According€to€the€complainant,€it€has€been€established€that€the€infliction€of€torture€andŠ €Š Šill-treatment€by€the€Spanish€security€forces€is€an€"administrative€practice"€incompatible€with€theŠ pĄ ŠConvention€against€Torture,€since€it€involves€the€repetition€of€acts€that€are€contrary€to€article€1€ofŠ ` ° Šthe€Convention,€as€well€as€official€tolerance€on€the€part€of€the€authorities.€The€practice€of€torture€andŠ P   Šill-treatment€has€been€corroborated€in€numerous€reports€on€Spain€by€international€bodies€over€manyŠ @  Šyears,€and€persists€to€the€present€day.€In€its€conclusions€relating€to€the€supplementary€report€ofŠ 0 € ŠSpain,€the€Committee€against€Torture€expressed€its€concern€at€"the€increase€in€the€number€ofŠ  p  Šcomplaints€of€torture€and€ill-treatment,€at€delays€in€the€processing€of€such€complaints€and€at€theŠ `  Šimpunity€of€a€number€of€perpetrators€of€torture".€As€the€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€ofŠ P  ŠTorture€emphasized,€"it€would€be€premature€to€conclude€that€the€phenomenon€of€torture€and€severeŠ š@  Šill-treatment€had€been€eradicated"€in€Spain.€Š ą0  ŠĢ3.5.13€€The€risks€of€torture€and€ill-treatment€are€also€corroborated€by€many€recent€reports€fromŠ Ą Šinternational€bodies€concerning€Spain:€Š ° ŠĢą0  ą€š š€The€views€and€recommendations€of€the€Human€Rights€Committee€during€its€considerationŠ ą Šof€reports€submitted€by€Spain€under€article€40€of€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€andŠ €Š ŠPolitical€Rights;€ŠpĄ(#(# ŠĢą0  ą€š š€The€reports€of€the€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€and€Inhuman€orŠ P  ŠDegrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€(CPT)€concerning€visits€to€Spain,€issued€on€4€MarchŠ @ Š1996€and€12€April€2000.€In€its€reports,€CPT€notes€that€torture€and€other€very€severe€formsŠ 0€ Šof€ill-treatment€are€still€Ō_ŌpractisedŌ_Ō,€particularly€by€the€members€of€the€Civil€Guard€againstŠ  p ŠBasque€nationals€suspected€of€belonging€to€or€collaborating€with€ETA.€In€the€report€preparedŠ ` Šbetween€22€November€and€4€December€1998,€CPT€notes€that€"those€allegations€involvedŠ P Šblows€to€various€parts€of€the€body€and,€in€some€cases,€more€serious€forms€of€physicalŠ š@ Šill-treatment,€including€sexual€assault€of€female€detainees€by€male€police€officers,€andŠ ą0 Šasphyxiation€by€placing€a€plastic€bag€over€the€head".€In€certain€cases,€the€reports€includeŠ Š  Šmedical€certificates€consistent€with€the€victims'€allegations;€ŠĄ!(#(# ŠĢą0  ą€š š€The€reports€of€Mr.€Ō_ŌKooijmansŌ_Ō€and€Mr.€Ō_ŌRodleyŌ_Ō,€United€Nations€Special€Ō_ŌRapporteursŌ_Ō€on€theŠ  #š! Šquestion€of€torture;€Š$ą"(#(# ŠĢą0  ą€š š€The€views€of€the€Committee€against€Torture€during€its€consideration€of€periodic€reportsŠ p&Ą!$ Šsubmitted€by€Spain€under€article€19€of€the€Convention.€Moreover,€on€9€November€1999,€theŠ `'°"% ŠCommittee€against€Torture€communicated€its€views€concerning€communication€No.Š P( #& Š118/1998€submitted€by€the€complainant,€Ō_ŌJosuŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌArkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAranaŌ_Ō,€under€article€22€of€the€UnitedŠ @)$' ŠNations€Convention€against€Torture,€against€France.€Š0*€%((#(# ŠĢą0  ą€š š€Reports€prepared€by€Amnesty€International,€the€Association€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture,Š ,`'* Šthe€World€Organization€against€Torture,€and€International€Prison€Watch.€Moreover,€it€shouldŠ -P(+ Šbe€pointed€out€that,€in€1990,€the€Government€of€Spain€broke€its€agreement€with€theŠ š-@), ŠŌ_ŌInternational€Committee€of€the€Red€Cross€(Ō_ŌICRCŌ_Ō),€which€permitted€Ō_ŌICRCŌ_Ō€to€visit€politicalŠ ° Šdetainees€in€Spain,€particularly€many€Basque€prisoners.€In€spite€of€the€many€requests€madeŠ  š Što€the€Spanish€authorities,€those€authorities€have€not€yet€re-established€the€agreement.€Šą(#(# ŠĢ3.5.14€€Moreover,€reliable€reports€from€international€human€rights€bodies€indicate€that€theŠ pĄ Šill-treatment€regularly€inflicted€by€Spanish€officers,€intentionally€and€with€professionalism,€in€orderŠ ` ° Što€obtain€confessions€or€information€or€to€cause€terror,€are€serious€enough€to€be€classified€as€tortureŠ P   Šunder€article€1€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€the€jurisprudence€of€the€European€Court€ofŠ @  ŠHuman€Rights.€Š 0 € ŠĢ3.5.15€€The€impunity€enjoyed€by€torturers€on€the€part€of€the€Spanish€authorities€is€an€additional€riskŠ `  Šfactor.€Indeed,€such€impunity€encourages€perpetrators€of€torture€and€ill-treatment€to€persist€in€theirŠ P  Šacts€of€violence.€Often,€victims'€complaints€are€filed€away€and€never€followed€up;€the€proceedingsŠ š@  Šare€very€long;€sentencing€of€torturers€is€very€rare;€when€sentences€are€handed€down€by€SpanishŠ ą0  Šcourts,€torturers€are€most€often€pardoned€by€the€authorities;€certain€torturers€have€even€beenŠ Š  Špromoted.€The€fact€that€officers€who€Ō_ŌpractiseŌ_Ō€torture€are€not€punished€creates€a€feeling€of€impunity,Š Ą Šwhich€encourages€the€persistence€of€the€practice€of€torture.€Š ° ŠĢ3.5.16€€As€the€Committee€against€Torture€has€already€noted,€statements€obtained€as€a€result€of€tortureŠ ą Šare€accepted€by€Spanish€courts,€particularly€the€National€High€Court,€which€is€a€special€court€thatŠ €Š Šdeals€with€crimes€and€acts€of€terrorism.€Moreover,€the€judgements€handed€down€by€the€NationalŠ pĄ ŠHigh€Court€are€not€subject€to€appeal,€in€contravention€of€article€14,€paragraph€5,€of€the€InternationalŠ `° ŠCovenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights;€only€an€appeal€for€cassation€is€possible€before€the€SupremeŠ P  ŠCourt,€which€refuses€to€re-examine€the€lawfulness€of€the€evidence€accepted€in€first€instance€by€theŠ @ ŠNational€High€Court.€Š 0€ ŠĢ3.5.17€€Finally,€concerning€the€situation€in€Spain,€it€should€be€recalled€the€Committee€againstŠ ` ŠTorture€stated€that,€pursuant€to€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€"no€exceptionalŠ P Šcircumstances€whatsoever,€whether€š8š€internal€political€instability€or€any€other€public€emergency,Š š@ Šmay€be€invoked€as€a€justification€of€torture".€Thus,€the€situation€of€acute€conflict€in€the€BasqueŠ ą0 ŠCountry€cannot€be€invoked€to€justify€the€practice€of€torture€by€the€Spanish€security€forces€and€theŠ Š  Šuse€by€Spanish€courts€of€evidence€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture.€Š Ą! ŠĢņņņ ņThe€State€party's€observationsó óóóŠ  #š! ŠĢ4.1€€The€State€party€submitted€its€views€in€a€note€Ō_ŌverbaleŌ_Ō€dated€29€April€2002.€Š €%Š # ŠĢ4.2€€The€State€party€notes€that€the€complainant€had€been€arrested€for€possession€of€weapons€and€wasŠ `'°"% Šsuspected€of€being€a€member€of€ETA.€The€complainant€was€sentenced€by€a€judgement€of€the€ParisŠ P( #& ŠCorrectional€Court€to€two€and€a€half€years'€imprisonment€for€offences€involving€the€transport€andŠ @)$' Špossession€of€weapons,€the€holding€of€false€administrative€documents€and€participation€in€aŠ 0*€%( Šconspiracy€with€a€view€to€preparing€an€act€of€terrorism.€Š  +p&) ŠĢ4.3€€The€first€request€to€extradite€the€complainant,€dated€15€September€1997,€ņņ7/óó€was€based€on€herŠ -P(+ Šmembership€of€ETA€and€on€the€fact€that€she€had€created€the€infrastructure€of€the€"MadridŠ š-@), ŠCommando",€which€carried€out€attacks€in€the€Spanish€capital.€For€this€reason,€the€complainant€hadŠ ° Šbeen€placed€in€detention€pending€extradition€on€21€October€1997€in€Ō_ŌFresnesŌ_Ō€prison.€By€a€judgementŠ  š Šof€18€March€1998,€the€indictment€division€of€the€Paris€Court€of€Appeal€issued€a€ruling€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€ofŠ ą Šher€extradition€and€the€Court€of€Cassation€rejected€her€appeal€against€that€ruling€on€23€June€1998.€Š €Š ŠĢ4.4€€The€complainant€was€the€subject€of€an€additional€extradition€request€on€10€March€1999.€WhileŠ ` ° Šthe€examination€of€that€additional€request€was€in€progress€and€criminal€proceedings€were€beingŠ P   Šundertaken€by€the€French€courts,€the€authorities€of€the€State€party€decided€not€to€proceed€directlyŠ @  Šwith€the€first€extradition.€According€to€the€indictment€and€the€evidence€produced€by€the€SpanishŠ 0 € Šauthorities€in€support€of€that€additional€extradition€request:€Š  p  ŠĢą0  ą[A]€complaint€was€brought€against€P.E.,€as€a€member€of€the€terrorist€organization€ETA,€forŠ P  Šhaving,€together€with€other€members€of€that€organization,€in€Madrid,€sought€information€on,Š š@  Šmonitored€and€verified€the€route€taken€by€a€van€belonging€to€the€general€staff€of€the€SpanishŠ ą0  Šair€force,€with€the€aim€of€carrying€out€an€act€of€violence.€On€30€November€1993,€an€OpelŠ Š  Švehicle€had€been€stolen€and€its€number€plates€had€been€changed.€The€person€whoseŠ Ą Šextradition€is€sought,€together€with€her€accomplices,€constructed€an€explosive€deviceŠ ° Šconsisting€of€two€"casseroles",€each€containing€an€explosive€charge€of€approximately€45Š  š Škilos.€On€24€January€1994,€two€of€her€accomplices€drove€the€car€bomb€to€the€intersection€ofŠ ą Šthe€Paseo€of€La€Ō_ŌErmitaŌ_Ō€and€Ō_ŌAvenidaŌ_Ō€del€Ō_ŌManzanaresŌ_Ō€in€Madrid.€On€25€January€1994,€atŠ €Š Šapproximately€0800€hours,€as€the€military€van€passed€by,€Angel€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌPenagarikanoŌ_ŌŠ pĄ Šactivated€the€device€without€managing€to€explode€it.€He€then€fled€together€with€Ō_ŌArriŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌPascualŌ_ŌŠ `° ŠŌ_Ōd'AlvaroŌ_Ō€[š8š].€[Several€moments€later,€the€police€attempted€to€carry€out€a€controlledŠ P  Šexplosion.€They€failed,€and€the]€device€exploded,€injuring€19€persons€and€causing€seriousŠ @ Šdamage€to€buildings€and€parked€vehicles.Š0€(#(# ŠĢ4.5€€Following€the€additional€request,€the€complainant€was€placed€in€detention€pending€extraditionŠ ` Šon€15€June€1999.€After€ordering€additional€information€with€a€view€to€verifying€whether€part€of€theŠ P Šaccusation€had€not€been€subject€to€a€statute€of€limitations,€on€21€June€2000€the€indictment€divisionŠ š@ Šruled€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€of€extradition€for€acts€qualified€by€the€requesting€State€as€attempted€terrorist€murder,Š ą0 Šafter€having€found€that€the€statute€of€limitations€for€prosecution€had€expired€under€French€law.€Š Š  ŠĢ4.6€€The€complainant€requested€her€release€on€21€October€1997.€The€request€was€granted€by€theŠ °"  Šindictment€division€on€22€March€2000.€In€the€context€of€the€additional€extradition€request,€theŠ  #š! Šcomplainant€also€requested€her€release€on€4€September€2000.€The€request€was€granted€on€18€OctoberŠ $ą" Š2000,€but€accompanied€by€a€measure€that€placed€the€complainant€under€judicial€supervision.€Š €%Š # ŠĢ4.7€€In€those€circumstances,€the€Prime€Minister€granted€extradition€on€the€basis€of€the€firstŠ `'°"% Šextradition€request€and€the€additional€request,€in€a€decree€dated€29€September€2000.€The€complainantŠ P( #& Šwas€handed€over€to€the€Spanish€authorities€on€the€day€on€which€the€Council€of€State€took€its€decisionŠ @)$' Što€reject€her€appeal€against€the€decree,€on€7€November€2001.€Š 0*€%( ŠĢ4.8€€With€regard€to€the€merits€of€the€complaint,€the€State€party€notes€that€the€sole€complaint€madeŠ ,`'* Šby€the€complainant€deals€only€with€the€additional€extradition€request.€It€in€no€way€questions€the€firstŠ -P(+ Šextradition€request,€which€was€based€on€separate€facts€that€in€themselves€would€have€been€sufficientŠ š-@), Što€justify€a€decision€to€extradite€the€complainant,€after€the€indictment€division€ruled€in€Ō_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€ofŠ ° Šextradition€on€18€March€1998.€Thus,€the€extradition€order€itself€had€not€been€questioned,€but€onlyŠ  š Šthe€fact€that€the€State€party's€decision€to€extradite€the€complainant€had€not€been€accompanied€by€aŠ ą Šreservation€concerning€the€facts€related€to€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements.€Š €Š ŠĢ4.9€€Under€the€State€party's€legislation,€the€Act€of€10€March€1927€applies€in€cases€of€requests€forŠ ` ° Šextradition€made€by€Spain.€Pursuant€to€article€16€of€the€Act,€the€indictment€division€must€verifyŠ P   Šwhether€or€not€the€legal€conditions€for€extradition€have€been€met.€In€this€regard,€it€must€verifyŠ @  Šwhether€or€not€the€file€has€been€properly€prepared,€whether€or€not€there€has€been€an€"obvious€error"Š 0 € Šwith€respect€to€the€identity€of€the€requested€individual€and€whether€it€is€clear€that€the€individualŠ  p  Šcould€not€have€participated€in€the€acts€of€which€he€is€accused.€However,€the€indictment€division,Š `  Špursuant€to€a€general€principle€of€French€extradition€law,€may€not€assess€whether€or€not€prosecutionŠ P  Šis€founded€or€if€all€of€the€charges€are€sufficient.€Š š@  ŠĢ4.10€€The€indictment€division€then€issues€a€ruling€that€may,€if€it€is€Ō_ŌfavourableŌ_Ō,€be€accompanied€byŠ Š  Šreservations€or€be€partially€Ō_ŌfavourableŌ_Ō.€If€the€opinion€is€Ō_ŌunfavourableŌ_Ō,€it€is€final.€Any€review€that€theŠ Ą ŠCourt€of€Cassation€may€later€conduct€relates€solely€to€the€procedure€and€the€rules€governing€theŠ ° Šprocedure.€Š  š ŠĢ4.11€€On€the€basis€of€a€Ō_ŌfavourableŌ_Ō€ruling€by€the€indictment€division,€the€Government€adopts,€whenŠ €Š Šnecessary,€an€extradition€decree,€which€is€subject€to€appeal€before€the€Council€of€State,€whichŠ pĄ Šmonitors€"procedural€irregularities€of€the€extradition€decree€and€[š8š]€the€legality€of€the€extraditionŠ `° Šmeasure€in€domestic€law€in€the€light€of€international€law€and€international€conventions,€in€order€toŠ P  Šverify€whether,€particularly€after€the€indictment€division€has€examined€the€case,€the€Government€hadŠ @ Šbeen€able€to€decide€legally€that€conditions€for€extradition,€for€the€offences€involved,€had€been€met".Š 0€ ŠThe€State€party€emphasizes€that€it€was€in€this€context€that,€on€15€February€1999,€the€Council€of€StateŠ  p Šannulled€an€extradition€decision€on€the€grounds€of€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€againstŠ ` ŠTorture.€Š P ŠĢ4.12€€With€regard€to€the€complainant's€allegations€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€had€beenŠ ą0 Šobtained€as€a€result€of€torture,€the€indictment€division€decided€that€"while€it€is€true€that€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_ŌŠ Š  Šimplicated€[P.E.],€he€did€so€not€under€duress€but,€as€indicated€in€the€evidence€submitted€by€theŠ Ą! Šrequesting€State,€on€Civil€Guard€premises,€in€the€presence€of€a€lawyer".€For€its€part,€the€Council€ofŠ °"  ŠState,€on€the€basis€of€the€same€evidence,€considered€that€those€allegations€had€not€been€accompaniedŠ  #š! Šby€any€prima€facie€evidence.€The€Council€of€State€also€stressed€"that€it€follows€from€the€generalŠ $ą" Šprinciples€of€the€law€applicable€to€extradition€that€it€is€not€up€to€the€French€authorities,€except€in€theŠ €%Š # Šcase€of€an€obvious€error,€to€rule€on€the€correctness€of€the€charges€against€the€person€claimed;€that,Š p&Ą!$ Šin€the€case€at€hand,€it€does€not€appear€that€an€obvious€error€has€been€committed€both€with€respectŠ `'°"% Što€the€offence€of€belonging€to€an€armed€group€and€with€respect€to€the€crime€of€complicity€inŠ P( #& Šattempted€murder,€of€which€Ms.€[P.E.]€has€been€accused".€Š @)$' ŠĢ4.13€€The€State€party€maintains€that€the€State€party's€obligation€under€article€15€of€the€ConventionŠ  +p&) Šapplies€only€if€it€is€"established"€that€the€statement€in€question€had€been€obtained€as€a€result€ofŠ ,`'* Štorture.€The€wording€of€this€provision€is€very€different€from€that€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,Š -P(+ Šwhich€prohibits€a€State€party€from€returning€or€expelling€a€person€to€another€State€where€there€areŠ š-@), Šsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€"would€be€in€danger"€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€In€theŠ ° Špresent€case,€the€complainant€has€not€established€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€were€obtained€asŠ  š Ša€result€of€torture,€and€the€presence€of€a€lawyer€at€his€side€during€custody€casts€sufficiently€seriousŠ ą Šdoubt€on€those€allegations.€Š €Š ŠĢ4.14€€Moreover,€the€State€party€maintains€that€article€15€of€the€Convention€in€no€way€binds€it€toŠ ` ° Šmake€enquiries€of€a€third€State€in€order€to€assess€the€validity€of€allegations€of€torture.€With€regardŠ P   Što€extradition,€it€has€never€been€accepted€that€a€State€should€interfere€in€the€course€of€adjudicatoryŠ @  Šproceedings€taking€place€in€a€third€country.€The€burden€of€proof€can€therefore€fall€only€on€the€authorŠ 0 € Šof€the€allegations.€Š  p  ŠĢ4.15€€Since€the€obligation€contained€in€article€15€applies€only€to€situations€where€it€is€established€thatŠ P  Ša€statement€has€been€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture,€the€proof€can€result€from€a€sufficiently€consistentŠ š@  Šbody€of€circumstantial€evidence.€In€the€case€at€hand,€it€should€be€noted€that€the€circumstantialŠ ą0  Ševidence€adduced€by€the€complainant€is€tenuous.€She€refers€to€a€consultation€in€a€hospital€followingŠ Š  Šcustody€and€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€retraction€the€next€day€before€the€examining€magistrate.€TheŠ Ą Šcomplainant€did€not€supply€the€least€prima€facie€evidence€of€the€deterioration€of€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō'sŠ ° Šhealth€during€custody€or€of€a€causal€link€between€the€deterioration€of€his€health€and€the€physicalŠ  š Šabuse€to€which€he€was€allegedly€subjected.€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€retraction€before€the€examiningŠ ą Šmagistrate€may€be€explained€by€the€fact€that,€at€the€time,€he€was€not€subjected€to€any€pressure€andŠ €Š Šthat€he€therefore€was€able€very€quickly€to€diminish€the€significance€of€his€previous€statements.€Š pĄ ŠĢ4.16€€With€regard€to€the€presence€of€a€court-appointed€lawyer€and€the€fact€that€Spanish€legislationŠ P  Šdoes€not€permit€persons€held€in€custody€to€choose€their€lawyer,€the€fact€that€the€lawyer€who€wasŠ @ Špresent€when€the€statements€were€made€was€appointed€by€the€court€does€not€in€itself€constituteŠ 0€ Šgrounds€for€suspecting€him€of€having€seriously€failed€in€his€professional€duty€by€not€reporting,Š  p Šimmediately€or€subsequently,€that€the€statements€had€been€obtained€under€torture.€Š ` ŠĢ4.17€€In€addition€to€the€fact€that€the€complainant's€additional€explanations€concerning€custodyŠ š@ Šconditions€in€Spain€are€very€general,€the€State€party€emphasizes€that€communications€containingŠ ą0 Šallegations€similar€to€those€made€by€the€complainant€have€already€been€rejected€by€United€NationsŠ Š  Šbodies.€Thus,€in€opinion€No.€26/1999,€the€Working€Group€on€Arbitrary€Detention€considered:€Š Ą! ŠĢą0  ą[Ō_ŌI]ncommunicadoŌ_Ō€detention,€when€justified€by€insuperable€problems€in€the€investigation€ofŠ  #š! Šthe€offence€concerned,€especially€when€crimes€as€serious€as€terrorism€are€involved,€cannotŠ $ą" Šin€itself€be€regarded€as€contrary€to€the€Covenant.€[š8š]€The€Group€considers€charges€ofŠ €%Š # Šterrorism€and€conspiracy€to€represent€an€exceptional€circumstance€which,€according€toŠ p&Ą!$ ŠSpanish€legislation,€authorizes€incommunicado€detention€for€a€brief€period.€[š8š]€The€sameŠ `'°"% Šmay€be€said€of€the€right€to€choose€a€legal€counsel,€to€be€assisted€by€counsel€during€the€trialŠ P( #& Šand€to€meet€with€counsel,€as€set€forth€in€the€above-mentioned€Body€of€Principles,€adoptedŠ @)$' Šby€the€General€Assembly,€by€consensus,€in€l988.€As€Ō_ŌMikelŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌEgibarŌ_Ō€did€not€ask€to€beŠ 0*€%( Šinterrogated€in€the€presence€of€a€lawyer€of€his€own€choosing€and€had€accepted€the€presenceŠ  +p&) Šof€a€court-appointed€lawyer,€his€rights€were€not€violated,€especially€since,€as€soon€as€theŠ ,`'* Šincommunicado€detention€was€ordered,€he€was€able€to€designate€a€lawyer€whom€he€has€keptŠ -P(+ Šthroughout€the€rest€of€the€proceedings.€[š8š]€Šš-@),(#(# Їą0  ąSecrecy€of€inquiry€proceedings€in€the€early€stages€of€the€investigation€is€a€measureŠ ° Šauthorized€not€only€by€Spanish€law,€but€by€nearly€all€bodies€of€legislation,€as€a€measureŠ  š Šdesigned€to€avoid€the€results€of€the€trial€being€affected.€It€does€not€infringe€the€rights€of€theŠ ą ŠŌ_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō,€which€at€the€trial€stage€will€have€access€to€all€procedural€documents€and€will€be€ableŠ €Š Što€challenge€any€irrelevant€or€illegally€obtained€evidence.€Thus€it€cannot€be€considered€thatŠ pĄ Šany€right€essential€to€the€Ō_ŌdefenceŌ_Ō€of€the€accused€has€been€violated.Š` °(#(# ŠĢIn€the€present€case,€the€complainant€could€not€claim€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€was€deprived€of€his€rightŠ @  Što€choose€a€lawyer.€Š 0 € ŠĢ4.18€€Finally,€with€regard€to€the€Committee's€Views€in€the€Ō_ŌAkauzŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAranaŌ_Ō€case,€the€State€partyŠ `  Šmaintains€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€complaint€differed€from€the€present€complaint€in€that€it€claimed€a€violation€ofŠ P  Šarticle€3,€and€not€of€article€15,€of€the€Convention,€which€explains€why€the€Committee€provided€aŠ š@  Šlong€list€of€reasons€that€should€have€led€the€State€party€to€fear€that€the€author€might€be€subjected€toŠ ą0  Štorture€if€he€was€deported,€and€why€the€Committee€criticized€France€for€having€carried€out€theŠ Š  Šdeportation,€which€was€later€found€to€be€illegal€by€French€courts,€and€which€entailed€a€directŠ Ą Šhandover€from€police€to€police€without€respect€for€the€detainee's€rights;€this€is€not€the€case€in€theŠ ° Špresent€complaint,€where€an€extradition€procedure€was€carried€out€in€accordance€with€the€relevantŠ  š Šregulations€and€where€the€complainant€had€in€no€way€been€deprived€of€asserting€her€rights€beforeŠ ą ŠFrench€courts.€Š €Š ŠĢņ ņņņThe€complainant's€commentsóóó óŠ `° ŠĢ5.1€€In€a€letter€of€23€June€2002,€the€complainant€commented€on€the€State€party's€observations€on€theŠ @ Šmerits€of€the€complaint.€In€her€comments,€the€complainant€maintains€her€allegations€and€reiteratesŠ 0€ Šthe€arguments€set€out€in€her€complaint.€Š  p ŠĢ5.2€€In€order€to€demonstrate€the€relevance€of€her€arguments€that€the€States€parties€to€the€ConventionŠ P Šmust€respect€article€15€of€the€Convention,€including€in€cases€of€extradition€or€expulsion,€theŠ š@ Šcomplainant€draws€the€Committee's€attention€to€the€fact€that€two€other€European€Union€countries,Š ą0 ŠBelgium€and€Portugal,€recently€refused€to€extradite€three€alleged€members€of€ETA€pursuant€to€articleŠ Š  Š15€of€the€Convention€on€the€grounds€that€the€requests€for€extradition€were€based€on€evidenceŠ Ą! Šobtained€as€a€result€of€torture.€Š °"  ŠĢ5.3€€The€complainant€considers€that€the€claim€that€French€courts€were€under€no€obligation€to€makeŠ $ą" Šenquiries€of€a€third€State€in€order€to€assess€the€validity€of€the€allegations€of€torture€is€an€extremelyŠ €%Š # Šrestrictive€interpretation,€which€is€contrary€to€the€purpose€of€the€Convention.€Such€an€interpretationŠ p&Ą!$ Šundermines€the€founding€principle€of€the€Convention,€namely€the€absolute€prohibition€of€torture,€andŠ `'°"% Šone€of€its€major€corollaries,€the€unlawfulness€of€evidence€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture.€Since€theŠ P( #& Špresent€case€involves€a€serious€and€well-founded€allegation€that€evidence€obtained€as€a€result€ofŠ @)$' Štorture€was€used€as€the€basis€for€a€procedure,€the€State€party€must€use€the€means€at€its€disposal€toŠ 0*€%( Šascertain€the€veracity€of€such€allegations.€In€the€case€in€question,€the€French€courts€could,€forŠ  +p&) Šexample,€have€requested€additional€information€from€the€Spanish€authorities,€since€this€procedureŠ ,`'* Šis€quite€common€in€extradition€cases.€Such€a€request€would€have€allowed€the€French€authorities€toŠ -P(+ Šassemble€and€examine,€in€an€objective,€fair€and€thorough€manner,€all€the€elements€needed€toŠ š-@), Šestablish€that€the€aforementioned€statement€had€been€obtained€unlawfully.€Š ° ŠĢ5.4€€With€respect€to€the€elements€needed€to€support€the€allegations€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€had€madeŠ ą Šhis€statements€as€a€result€of€torture,€the€complainant€refers€to€a€CPT€report€that€deals€with€the€veryŠ €Š Šperiod€during€which€the€statements€at€issue€were€made€and€according€to€which:€Š pĄ ŠĢą0  ą[Ō_ŌB]othŌ_Ō€before€and€during€the€visit,€the€CPT€received€reports€from€other€sources€containingŠ P   Ša€considerable€number€of€allegations€of€ill-treatment€by€the€National€Police,€the€Civil€GuardŠ @  Šand€the€Basque€Autonomous€Police€(the€Ō_ŌErtzaintzaŌ_Ō)€relating€to€periods€of€custody€duringŠ 0 € Š1997€and€1998.€Those€allegations€involved€blows€to€various€parts€of€the€body€and,€in€someŠ  p  Šcases,€more€serious€forms€of€physical€ill-treatment,€including€sexual€assault€of€femaleŠ `  Šdetainees€by€male€police€officers,€and€asphyxiation€by€placing€a€plastic€bag€over€the€head.Š P  ŠIn€certain€cases,€the€reports€included€medical€certificates€recording€injuries€or€conditionsŠ š@  Šconsistent€with€the€allegations€made€by€the€persons€concerned.€Šą0 (#(# ŠĢą0  ąMany€of€the€above-mentioned€reports€related€to€persons€detained€in€the€Basque€Country€orŠ Ą Šthe€Ō_ŌNavarreŌ_Ō€region€as€terrorist€suspects€or€in€connection€with€terrorist-linked€public€orderŠ ° Šoffences.€It€would€appear€that,€in€a€number€of€those€cases,€the€persons€concerned€or€theirŠ  š Šrelatives€have€lodged€formal€complaints,€including€before€the€relevant€judicial€authorities,Š ą Šabout€the€manner€in€which€they€have€been€treated."€(Report€to€the€Spanish€Government€onŠ €Š Šthe€visit€to€Spain€carried€out€by€the€European€Committee€for€the€Prevention€of€Torture€andŠ pĄ ŠInhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€(CPT)€from€22€November€to€4€DecemberŠ `° Š1998,€document€CPT/Ō_ŌInfŌ_Ō€(2000)€5,€para.€12;€the€report€was€made€public€on€13€April€2000).ŠP (#(# ŠĢ5.5€€More€precisely,€and€contrary€to€the€State€party's€assertions,€in€his€report€submitted€on€2€FebruaryŠ 0€ Š2000,€the€Special€Rapporteur€on€the€question€of€torture€indicates€that:€Š  p ŠĢą0  ąŌ_ŌMikelŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌPeagarikanoŌ_Ō€was€arrested€in€Seville€on€21€March€1998€by€the€Ō_ŌGuardiaŌ_ŌŠ P ŠCivil€and€is€currently€in€the€Madrid-2€prison€(Alcal€de€Henares).€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€has€allegedŠ š@ Šthat€during€his€detention€he€was€subjected€to€ill-treatment€and€torture€which€involved€beingŠ ą0 Šstamped€on€and€kicked,€blows€to€the€ribs,€head€and€testicles,€electrodes€on€the€penis,€stomachŠ Š  Šand€chest,€mock€executions,€being€prevented€from€seeing,€and€threats€to€his€family€and€hisŠ Ą! Špartner€Ō_ŌMaiteŌ_Ō€Ō_ŌPedrosaŌ_Ō,€who€was€also€arrested.€Since€entering€prison,€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€hasŠ °"  Šreportedly€been€suffering€from€ankle€pains€which€have€prevented€him€from€engaging€in€anyŠ  #š! Šphysical€activity€(E/CN.4/2000/9,€p.€183).А$ą"(#(# ŠĢ5.6€€With€regard€to€the€presence€of€a€court-appointed€lawyer€when€the€statements€at€issue€were€made,Š p&Ą!$ Šthe€complainant€also€refers€to€a€more€recent€report€of€the€Special€Rapporteur€on€the€question€ofŠ `'°"% Štorture,€according€to€which:€Š P( #& ŠĢą0  ąIt€has€been€noted€that€most€of€them€have€allegedly€been€subjected€to€interrogation€withoutŠ 0*€%( Šthe€presence€of€a€lawyer€or€have€been€assigned€a€lawyer€by€the€court€who,€at€the€time€whenŠ  +p&) Štheir€statements€were€taken,€allegedly€agreed€with€their€detention.€In€this€regard,€the€SpecialŠ ,`'* ŠRapporteur€has€been€informed€that€the€Criminal€Procedures€Act€provides€that,€duringŠ -P(+ Špreventive€incommunicado€detention,€the€lawyer€is€appointed€by€the€court;€that€the€detaineeŠ š-@), Šmay€not€consult€with€him€in€private;€and€that€family€members€or€any€other€person€withŠ ° Šwhom€the€detainee€wishes€to€communicate€are€informed€neither€of€their€detention€nor€of€theŠ  š Šplace€where€they€are€being€held€(E/CN.4/2002/76/Add.1,€14€March€2002).Аą(#(# ŠĢ5.7€€The€complainant€also€emphasizes€that€the€French€authorities€did€not€hesitate€to€accept€theŠ pĄ Šstatements€made€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€on€23€and€24€March€1998€when€he€was€in€custody,€while€theyŠ ` ° Šcompletely€disregarded€his€later€statements€before€the€examining€magistrate.€The€authorities€of€theŠ P   ŠState€party€therefore€attached€an€Ō_ŌirrebuttableŌ_Ō€presumption€of€validity€to€the€confessions€obtained€onŠ @  Š23€and€24€March€1998.€Š 0 € ŠĢņņņ ņIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeó óóóŠ `  ŠĢ6.1€€Before€considering€any€claim€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€TortureŠ š@  Šmust€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€hasŠ ą0  Šascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention,€that€the€sameŠ Š  Šmatter€has€not€been,€and€is€not€being,€examined€under€another€procedure€of€internationalŠ Ą Šinvestigation€or€settlement.€In€the€present€case,€the€Committee€also€notes€that€all€domestic€remediesŠ ° Šhave€been€exhausted€and€that€the€State€party€has€not€objected€to€the€admissibility€of€theŠ  š Šcommunication.€It€therefore€considers€that€the€communication€is€admissible.€Since€both€the€StateŠ ą Šparty€and€the€author€have€made€observations€as€to€the€merits€of€the€communication,€the€CommitteeŠ €Š Šproceeds€to€the€examination€to€the€merits€of€the€case.€Š pĄ ŠĢ6.2€€The€Committee€notes€the€complainant's€allegations€concerning€the€circumstances€in€which€Mr.Š P  ŠŌ_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€statements€were€made,€the€evidence€that€she€adduced€in€support€of€the€allegations€andŠ @ Šthe€arguments€put€forward€by€the€parties€concerning€the€obligations€of€States€parties€under€articleŠ 0€ Š15€of€the€Convention.€Š  p ŠĢ6.3€€The€Committee€considers€in€this€regard€that€the€generality€of€the€provisions€of€article€15€deriveŠ P Šfrom€the€absolute€nature€of€the€prohibition€of€torture€and€imply,€consequently,€an€obligation€for€eachŠ š@ ŠState€party€to€ascertain€whether€or€not€statements€constituting€part€of€the€evidence€of€a€procedureŠ ą0 Šfor€which€it€is€competent€have€been€made€as€a€result€of€torture.€The€Committee€finds€that€theŠ Š  Šstatements€at€issue€constitute€part€of€the€evidence€of€the€procedure€for€the€extradition€of€theŠ Ą! Šcomplainant,€and€for€which€the€State€party€is€competent.€In€this€regard,€in€the€light€of€the€allegationsŠ °"  Šthat€the€statements€at€issue,€which€constituted,€at€least€in€part,€the€basis€for€the€additional€extraditionŠ  #š! Šrequest,€were€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture,€the€State€party€had€the€obligation€to€ascertain€theŠ $ą" Šveracity€of€such€allegations.€Š €%Š # ŠĢ6.4€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€French€authorities,€both€judicial€and€administrative,€examined€theŠ `'°"% Šcomplainant's€allegations€and€found€that€they€had€not€been€sufficiently€substantiated.€The€CommitteeŠ P( #& Šalso€notes€that€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€complaint€concerning€the€treatment€to€which€he€was€allegedlyŠ @)$' Šsubjected€during€custody€is€still€being€considered€by€the€Spanish€judicial€authorities,€which€areŠ 0*€%( Šexpected€to€rule,€at€the€end€of€the€judicial€proceedings,€on€whether€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō's€confession€wasŠ  +p&) Šobtained€in€an€unlawful€manner.€The€Committee€considers€that€only€this€judicial€ruling€should€beŠ ,`'* Štaken€into€consideration,€and€not€the€simple€retraction€by€Mr.€Ō_ŌAzurmendiŌ_Ō€of€a€confession€which€heŠ -P(+ Šhad€previously€signed€in€the€presence€of€counsel.€Š š-@), Ї6.5€€The€Committee€reiterates€in€this€regard€that€it€is€for€the€courts€of€the€States€parties€to€theŠ ° ŠConvention,€and€not€the€Committee,€to€evaluate€facts€and€evidence€in€a€particular€case.€It€is€for€theŠ  š Šappellate€courts€of€States€parties€to€the€Convention€to€examine€the€conduct€of€the€trial,€unless€it€canŠ ą Šbe€ascertained€that€the€manner€in€which€the€evidence€was€evaluated€was€clearly€arbitrary€orŠ €Š Šamounted€to€a€denial€of€justice,€or€that€the€trial€judge€had€clearly€violated€his€obligation€ofŠ pĄ Šimpartiality.€Š ` ° ŠĢ6.6€€The€Committee,€bearing€in€mind€that€it€is€for€the€author€to€demonstrate€that€her€allegations€areŠ @  Šwell€founded,€considers€that,€on€the€basis€of€the€facts€before€it,€it€cannot€conclude€that€it€has€beenŠ 0 € Šestablished€that€the€statements€at€issue€were€obtained€as€a€result€of€torture.€Š  p  ŠĢ6.7€€Accordingly,€the€Committee€is€of€the€opinion€that€the€facts€before€it€do€not€enable€it€to€establishŠ P  Šthat€there€has€been€a€violation€of€article€15€of€the€Convention.€Š š@  ŠĢĢņ ņņņNotesóóó óŠ Ą ŠĢņņ1óó/€€As€the€complainant€had€been€extradited€to€Spain€on€7€November€2001,€the€State€party€was€unableŠ  š Što€comply€with€the€Committee's€request€of€5€December€2001€regarding€interim€measures.€Š ą ŠĢņņ2óó/€€The€complainant€does€not€specify€the€exact€date€of€her€arrest.€Š pĄ ŠĢņņ3óó/€€In€this€regard,€the€complainant€stresses€that€her€relations€with€her€partner€have€always€remainedŠ P  Šstrictly€at€the€personal€level.€Š @ ŠĢņņ4óó/€€This€is€the€request€referred€to€by€the€State€party€as€an€"additional€request"€-€see€paragraphs€4.4Š  p Šff.€Š ` ŠĢņņ5óó/€€The€State€party€explains€in€its€observations€(see€paragraphs€4.1€ff.)€why€the€ruling€is€partially€inŠ š@ ŠŌ_ŌfavourŌ_Ō€of€extradition.€Š ą0 ŠĢņņ6óó/€€The€complainant€explains€that€"the€very€manner€in€which€the€period€of€custody€as€a€whole€takesŠ Ą! Šplace€offers€no€guarantees€that€the€detainee€can€make€a€statement€freely,€even€if€a€court-appointedŠ °"  Šlawyer€is€present€when€"official"€statements€are€made.€According€to€reliable€testimony€from€all€theŠ  #š! Švictims€of€torture€and€serious€ill-treatment€in€Spain,€the€nature€of€the€period€in€custody€is€as€follows:€Š $ą" ŠĢą0  ą"(a)€Torture€and€ill-treatment€begin€from€the€time€of€arrest,€including€during€transfer€to€theŠ p&Ą!$ Šfacilities€of€the€Spanish€security€forces;€Š`'°"%(#(# Šą0  ąą0` (#(#ąŠ ` (#` (# Šą0  ą"(b)€During€the€initial€hours€and€initial€days€of€the€period€of€custody,€violence€is€used€toŠ @)$' Šcondition€the€detainee€so€that€he€or€she€will€make€the€statements€the€torturers€wish;€theŠ 0*€%( Šviolence€and€the€questioning€take€place€continuously,€day€and€night,€without€let-up;€theŠ  +p&) Šmethods€customarily€used€by€the€members€of€the€Spanish€security€forces,€separately€or€inŠ ,`'* Šcombination,€cause€pain€and€acute€physical€and/or€mental€suffering€and€can€be€described€asŠ -P(+ Štorture€within€the€meaning€of€article€1€of€the€Convention€against€Torture.€They€include:Š š-@), Šrepeated€beatings,€electric€shocks,€la€Ō_ŌbolsaŌ_Ō€(asphyxiation€using€a€plastic€bag€placed€over€theŠ ° Šhead),€exhausting€physical€exercise,€deprivation€of€sleep€and/or€food,€sexual€abuse,€includingŠ  š Šrape,€humiliating€and€degrading€treatment,€constant€threats€and€insults€against€the€individualŠ ą Šand/or€his€or€her€family;€ą0h(#(#ąŠ€Šh(#h(# ŠĢą0  ą"(c)€When€the€detainee's€physical€resistance€and€morale€have€been€broken€and€destroyed,€theŠ ` ° Šrequired€statements€are€dictated€by€the€interrogators€and€the€detainee€must€learn€them€byŠ P   Šheart;€a€number€of€sessions€are€held€to€ensure€that€the€person€will€make€the€statementŠ @  Šrequired.€If€the€person€resists€or€does€not€make€the€required€statement€before€theŠ 0 € Šcourt-appointed€lawyer,€the€torturers€threaten€the€person€being€questioned€with€further€orŠ  p  Šresumed€torture.€In€particular,€before€the€"official"€statement€is€made,€the€person€isŠ `  Šthreatened€with€further€torture€if€he€or€she€does€not€recite€the€"lesson"€to€the€letter€whenŠ P  Šmaking€the€statement€in€the€presence€of€the€court-appointed€lawyer.€If€the€statement€is€notŠ š@  Š"right",€the€torture€starts€again€until€the€torturers€obtain€the€result€they€desire.€Šą0 (#(# ŠĢą0  ą"[š8š]€In€these€circumstances,€it€has€been€established€that€the€presence€of€a€court-appointedŠ Ą Šlawyer€while€official€statements€are€being€made€before€the€Spanish€security€forces€by€noŠ ° Šmeans€constitutes€sufficient€protection€that€will€guarantee€that€the€statement€has€been€madeŠ  š Šfreely.€Moreover,€whenever€persons€have€been€tortured€in€Spain€while€in€custody,€they€haveŠ ą Šmade€such€statements€in€the€presence€of€a€court-appointed€lawyer,€which€has€never€preventedŠ €Š Štorture€from€taking€place€or€the€statements€from€being€obtained€as€a€result€of€violence.€InŠ pĄ Šaddition,€the€totality€of€the€testimony€and€the€observations€of€human€rights€protection€bodiesŠ `° Šshow€that€the€court-appointed€lawyer€displays€a€passive€attitude€and€that,€even€if€the€personŠ P  Šbeing€questioned€bears€traces€of€ill-treatment€or€appears€disoriented€and€extremely€tired,€theŠ @ Šcourt-appointed€lawyer€in€most€cases€fails€to€report€the€fact."€Š0€(#(# ŠĢņņ7óó/€€The€State€party€does€not€mention€the€existence€of€another,€earlier€"first"€extradition€request,Š ` Šwhich€the€complainant€refers€to€in€paragraph€2.2.