ÿWPCp ñœ¶bÍ‚Vþ=j1úñoW½f‚^=-íZ¾êƒñ ¶Ö¬¶bÍ‚ÐfÔ0¦‘vðÑF¢~3¬oPHsÿß¼º µ=1ðgX9óÄ1ÖÀ¤À)˜ é~§‡ƒH¯#/½º$Ëø»£ …F¿à±2枢§!Ï`Œ,BÈ‚¦¹Cß³`3”bgç̪aëäw"³3–~I_’A£}1Tü¬H)]þ_ Ë{ÍSèÉEõ(—c3›äÒÃvÞDI -º¯{ M&9:ï6©Iר¢V!‡zweùØ&!è$'®ðߦ4dãMGÞF8Å3Sõqkž8¹q®•ƒ™2Lñ ODƒ¢6Q5¹€ñ¦¢û¡IF2·dŒÁÖ<.nIm! •¤á¨“Ê~¬©Â ÊL. ¸ZGâ°K9ìVäŽÝî\ að­'©j•…°“sZ{¤ö±ýe¬jXZ©ßI˜®ÏõÁ¯ŠCgÅ©yÐG0 £xcu9AÑ*K«Âñ¬þ€Û¸„Ð ,ù÷I³?À÷LÃU2]!%,í¸GžéÇ7Îí~G§KF¦¨±°®Ó •óÔfÿB¾ñî­Œe”P¶N×V w#¹žË¤¥WF¾J–æ‹ ç«øópóÙ^™yòpªûíÚjÓ[*#ÁLUN  %[ 0:a 0î› 0ë‰ 0èt 0å\ 0âA 0ß# 0Ü 0ÙÞ 0Ö· 0Ü 0Ùi 0ÖB 0Ó 0Ðë 0Í» 0ʈ 0ÇR 0Ä 0ÛÝ 0ظ 0Õ 0Òe 0Ï7 0Ì 0ÉÒ 0Æ› 0Ãaaaaa^ $w044HW mY˜HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 5e,,,,0(ÈhH  Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ûœ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,Ô2G+J ÿÿ0_level1Ó ¨ý ÓÓ X ÓÓ/%4 4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤/ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2D+J ÿÿ0_level2Ó ¨ý ÓÓ ° ÓÓ,"Œ Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤,ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2A+J ÿÿ0_level3Ó ¨ý ÓÓ  ÓÓ)ä ä <”ìDœôL¤)ÓÔ2ÔÔ3  Ôà..àÓ  ÓÓ2(Ü Ü4Œ ä <”ìDœôL¤2ÓÓ ¨ý Ó2>+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 Ó3 ¾. Dˆ”-lÁ 3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòK.€S.€Y.€v.€The€NetherlandsóóÐ à ÐÌCommunication€No.€190/2001Ð pÀ ÐÌ15€May€2003Ð P   ÐÌCAT/C/30/D/190/2001Ð 0 € ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ P  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€K.€S.€Y.€(represented€by€counsel)Ð Ð  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€K.€S.€Y.Ð ° ÐÌòòState€Partyóó:€The€NetherlandsÐ à ÐÌòòDate€of€complaintóó:€5€January€2001€(initial€submission)óóÐ pÀ ÐÌÌÓ  ÓòòThe€Committee€against€Tortureóó,€established€under€Article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ @ ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð 0€ ÐÌòòMeeting€onóó€15€May€2003,Ð ` ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€complaint€No.€190/2001,€submitted€to€the€Committee€againstÐ ð@ ÐTorture€by€Mr.€K.€S.€Y.€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€InhumanÐ à0 Ðor€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð Ð  ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€complaint,€hisÐ °"  Ðcounsel€and€the€State€party,Ð  #ð! ÐÌòòAdopts€the€followingóó:Ð €%Ð # ÐÓPÓÌÌÓ  Óò òòòDecision€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionóóó óÐ P( #& ÐÓ{ÓÌÓ  ÓÌ1.1€The€complainant€is€Mr.€K.€S.€Y.,€a€citizen€of€Iran,€born€on€23€August€1950,€whose€applicationÐ  +p&) Ðfor€refugee€status€was€rejected€in€the€Netherlands.€He€claims€that€his€deportation€to€Iran€wouldÐ ,`'* Ðconstitute€a€violation€by€the€Netherlands€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÐ -P(+ ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment€(hereafter,€the€Convention).€He€isÐ ð-@), Ðrepresented€by€counsel.Ð ° ÐÌ1.2€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmitted€theÐ à Ðcommunication€to€the€State€party€on€16€October€2001.€Pursuant€to€rule€108€of€the€Committeeððs€rulesÐ €Ð Ðof€procedure,€the€State€party€was€requested€not€to€deport€the€complainant€to€Iran€pending€theÐ pÀ Ðconsideration€of€his€case€by€the€Committee.Ð ` ° ÐÌòòò òThe€Facts€as€Presented€by€the€Complainantóóó óÐ @  ÐÌ2.1€The€complainant€states€that€he€has€encountered€problems€in€Iran€on€account€of€his€homosexualityÐ  p  Ðand€because€of€the€political€activities€of€his€brother,€Ali€Akbar.Ð `  ÐÌ2.2€The€complainant€had€difficulties€with€Iranian€authorities€since€his€brother€was€recognized€as€aÐ ð@  Ðrefugee€in€the€Netherlands€in€the€early€eighties.€He€was€interrogated€by€the€Ô_ÔMonkeratÔ_Ô€CommitteeÐ à0  Ðfour€or€five€times€and,€after€each€interrogation,€had€to€sign€the€next€convocation.Ð Ð  ÐÌ2.3€In€March€1992,€the€complainant€travelled€to€the€Netherlands€for€the€wedding€of€his€brother.Ð ° ÐWhen€he€returned€to€Iran,€he€was€interrogated€by€the€authorities€about€the€reasons€of€his€trip€and€theÐ  ð Ðactivities€of€his€brother€in€the€Netherlands.€The€Iranian€authorities€confiscated€his€passport,€issuedÐ à Ðan€order€prohibiting€him€to€travel€abroad.€He€was€ordered€to€report€daily€to€the€passportsðð€office€ofÐ €Ð Ðthe€criminal€investigation€department.Ð pÀ ÐÌ2.4€In€Iran,€the€complainant€had€a€homosexual€relationship€with€one€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHamwarÔ_Ô,€whoseÐ P  Ðhomosexuality€allegedly€was€easy€to€recognize€due€to€his€ð ðfemaleðð€behaviour.€Because€of€hisÐ @ Ðhomosexuality,€he€Ô_ÔseperatedÔ_Ô€from€his€wife,€with€whom€he€had€three€kids.€Ð 0€ ÐÌ2.5€On€10€August€1992,€the€complainant€was€arrested€in€Shiraz€by€the€Ô_ÔMonkeratÔ_Ô€(Special€Unit€ofÐ ` Ðthe€Revolutionary€Committee)€on€account€of€complaints€by€neighbours€about€his€homosexualÐ P Ðactivities.€His€partner€was€not€arrested€as€he€went€into€hiding.€The€complainant€was€taken€to€a€prisonÐ ð@ Ðin€the€Lout€desert€and€interrogated€about€his€homosexuality€and€his€brotherððs€activities.€During€hisÐ à0 Ðdetention,€he€allegedly€was€tortured,€beaten€with€cables€on€the€sole€of€his€feet,€on€his€legs€and€in€theÐ Ð  Ðface,€and€hanged€to€the€ceiling€by€one€arm€during€half€a€day€over€three€weeks.€The€complainant€wasÐ À! Ðlater€sentenced€to€death€òò1/óó€€but€never€received€a€written€verdict€of€the€sentence.€After€5€months€ofÐ °"  Ðdetention,€he€succeeded€to€escape€with€the€help€of€prison€cleaning€services€who€hid€him€in€theÐ  #ð! Ðgarbage€truck.€The€escape€was€facilitated€by€the€absence€of€guards€in€the€evening,€the€prisonersÐ $à" Ðbeing€all€confined€in€their€cell.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ2.6€The€complainant€first€went€to€Ô_ÔMashadÔ_Ô€and€then€to€Ô_ÔIspahanÔ_Ô,€where€some€relatives€resided.€FromÐ `'°"% Ðthere€he€organized€his€travel€to€Europe.€In€August€1993,€the€complainant€and€his€partner€travelledÐ P( #& Ðseparately€to€the€Netherlands.€The€complainant€used€an€Iranian€passport€provided€by€the€ð ðÔ_ÔpasseurÔ_ÔððÐ @)$' Ðwith€his€own€photograph.€When€he€arrived€in€the€Netherlands,€he€destroyed€the€passport€as€he€hadÐ 0*€%( Ðbeen€told€to€do€so.€Ð  +p&) ÐÌ2.7€On€16€March€1994,€the€complainant€applied€for€both€refugee€status€and€residence€permit€onÐ -P(+ Ðhumanitarian€grounds.€Both€applications€were€rejected€on€26€August€1994.€On€29€August€1994,€theÐ ð-@), Ðcomplainant€applied€for€a€review€of€this€decision.€On€22€December€1994,€the€Advice€Committee€onÐ ° ÐAlien€Affairs€advised€the€State€Secretary€of€the€Department€of€Justice€to€deny€asylum€to€theÐ  ð Ðcomplainant€but€to€grant€him€a€residence€permit€because€of€his€physical€and€psychological€condition.Ð à ÐÌ2.8€Since€his€arrival€in€the€Netherlands,€the€complainant€shared€accommodation€with€his€partner,Ð pÀ ÐÔ_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô,€until€the€latter€started€relationships€with€other€men.€After€a€fight€about€this€situation,Ð ` ° Ðthe€complainant€killed€his€partner.€On€22€June€1995,€the€complainant€was€convicted€of€murder€byÐ P   Ðthe€District€Court€Leeuwarden€and€sentenced€to€6€years€imprisonment.€He€was€imprisoned€betweenÐ @  Ð21€January€1995€and€21€January€1999.€The€body€of€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô€was€repatriated€to€Iran,€afterÐ 0 € Ðintervention€of€the€Iranian€Embassy€in€the€Netherlands.Ð  p  ÐÌ2.9€In€the€meantime,€on€12€September€1996,€the€application€for€review€of€the€initial€decision€denyingÐ P  Ðasylum€and€residence€permit€to€the€complainant€was€rejected.€The€complainant€appealed€thisÐ ð@  Ðdecision€on€13€September€1996€before€the€District€Court€of€The€Hague.Ð à0  ÐÌ2.10€Moreover,€further€to€the€crime€committed€by€the€complainant,€the€State€Secretary€of€theÐ À ÐDepartment€of€Justice€declared€the€complainant€to€be€an€ð ðundesirable€personðð€on€10€SeptemberÐ ° Ð1996.€A€request€to€review€this€decision€was€rejected€on€6€December€1996.€The€complainant€madeÐ  ð Ða€further€appeal€against€this€decision€on€24€December€1996€before€the€District€Court€of€the€Hague.Ð à ÐÌ2.11€On€22€December€1999,€the€District€Court€of€The€Hague€dismissed€both€appeals€of€13Ð pÀ ÐSeptember€1996€and€24€December€1996.Ð `° ÐÌ2.12€In€the€meantime,€on€1€October€1999,€the€complainant€introduced€a€new€application€for€asylumÐ @ Ðwhich€was€rejected€on€5€October€1999.€His€appeal€against€this€decision€was€finally€rejected€on€11Ð 0€ ÐMay€2001.Ð  p ÐÌò òòòThe€Complaintó óóóÐ P ÐÌ3.1€The€complainant€claims€that€if€he€is€returned€to€Iran,€he€is€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture,Ð à0 Ðand€that€his€forcible€removal€to€Iran€would€entail€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€by€theÐ Ð  ÐState€party.Ð À! ÐÌ3.2€In€support€of€his€claim,€the€complainant€argues€that€he€was€tortured€when€he€was€detained€in€IranÐ  #ð! Ðin€1992.€The€consequences€of€these€abuses€are€confirmed€by€a€number€of€medical€reports€submittedÐ $à" Ðto€the€Committee.€According€to€the€medical€reports,€the€complainant€suffers€from€severe€postÐ €%Ð # Ðtraumatic€stress€disorder,€including€a€suicidal€tendency,€and€his€right€shoulder€is€seriously€restrictedÐ p&À!$ Ðin€its€movements€because€he€had€been€hanged€by€one€arm€for€prolonged€periods.Ð `'°"% ÐÌ3.3€The€complainant€considers€that€the€main€element€supporting€the€risk€of€torture€are€hisÐ @)$' Ðhomosexuality€and€the€events€that€occurred€in€the€Netherlands€after€his€arrival.€He€argues€that€hisÐ 0*€%( Ðhomosexuality€was€confirmed€by€his€partner,€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô,€during€hearings€related€to€his€ownÐ  +p&) Ðasylum€application€and€by€the€judgment€of€22€June€1995,€in€which€the€complainant€was€convictedÐ ,`'* Ðof€murder.Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ð3.4€The€complainant€explains€that€after€the€death€of€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHamwarÔ_Ô,€his€body€was€repatriated€to€IranÐ ° Ðand€that€the€Iranian€authorities€have€undoubtedly€tried€to€obtain€explanations€about€the€reasons€ofÐ  ð ÐÔ_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ôððs€death.€If€he€were€removed€now€to€Iran,€he€would€certainly€face€problems€relatedÐ à Ðto€the€murder€he€committed€and,€particularly,€his€homosexuality.€This€would€put€him€at€risk€of€againÐ €Ð Ðbeing€detained€and€subjected€to€torture€and€other€forms€of€ill„treatment.Ð pÀ ÐÌ3.5€The€complainant,€referring€to€a€report€of€Amnesty€International€of€30€July€1997,€notes€thatÐ P   Ðhomosexual€activities€are€a€criminal€offence€under€the€Iranian€Penal€Code.€He€points€out€that€theÐ @  Ðmere€declaration€of€four€witnesses€may€lead€to€punishment€as€well€as€the€opinion€of€a€judge€basedÐ 0 € Ðon€his€own€knowledge.€The€report€further€says€that€a€person€suspected€of€ð ðcommittingðð€homosexualÐ  p  Ðactivities€risks€arrest,€torture€(lashes)€or€ill„treatment.Ð `  ÐÌ3.6€As€to€sources€that€confirm€the€existence€of€acts€of€torture€in€Iran,€the€complainant€refers€to€theÐ ð@  Ðreport€of€the€United€Nations€Special€Representative€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€on€IranÐ à0  Ðof€21€September€1999,€according€to€which€ð ð[Ô_Ôp]ressÔ_Ô€accounts€suggest€that€corporal€punishment€isÐ Ð  Ðprevalent.€In€January€1999,€an€Iranian€newspaper€reported€that€two€15€year€old€boys€had€beenÐ À Ðsentenced€to€a€flogging€for€ððoffending€public€democracyðð€by€dressing€up€as€girls€and€wearing€make„Ð ° Ðup.€They€explained€to€the€Court€that€they€did€this€to€ððextract€money€from€rich€young€menðð.€In€JuneÐ  ð Ðan€Iranian€newspaper€reported€that€a€young€man€in€Ô_ÔMashadÔ_Ô€had€been€given€20€lashes€for€ððwoundingÐ à Ðpublic€moral€sentimentsðð€by€plucking€his€eyebrows€and€wearing€eyeshadow.€In€March€an€IranianÐ €Ð Ðnewspaper€reported€that€six€persons€had€been€sentenced€in€Ô_ÔMashadÔ_Ô€to€18€months€in€jail€and€228Ð pÀ Ðlashes€for€goading€passers„by€to€dance€in€the€streetðð.Ð `° ÐÌ3.7€The€Ô_ÔcomplainaitÔ_Ô€underlines€that€the€decisions€of€the€State€party€to€deny€him€refugee€status€wereÐ @ Ðbased€on€alleged€discrepancies€and,€in€particular,€on€the€fact€that€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô€did€not€mentionÐ 0€ Ðduring€his€own€asylum€hearings€that€the€complainant€had€been€detained€in€Iran.€The€complainantÐ  p Ðargues€that€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô€only€mentioned€his€homosexual€relationship€with€him€and€explained€thatÐ ` Ðhis€partner€also€had€problems€but€did€not€give€any€more€details.€The€complainant€also€refers€to€theÐ P Ðjurisprudence€of€the€Committee€according€to€which€complete€accuracy€can€seldom€be€expected€fromÐ ð@ Ðvictims€of€torture.Ð à0 ÐÌ3.9€Finally,€the€complainant€draws€attention€on€the€fact€that€the€complainant€was€not€admitted€in€theÐ À! ÐState€party€because€he€was€convicted€of€a€serious€crime.€The€complainant€that€is€not€compatible€withÐ °"  Ðthe€absolute€character€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Furthermore,€the€complainant€argues€that€heÐ  #ð! Ðis€not€a€threat€to€the€Dutch€society€because€his€crime€was€committed€out€of€passion,€as€confirmedÐ $à" Ðin€the€judgment€of€22€June€1995.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌò òòòState€Partyððs€Observations€on€the€Admissibility€and€Meritsóóó óÐ `'°"% ÐÌ4.1€In€a€submission€dated€21€November€2000,€the€State€party€made€its€observations€on€the€meritsÐ @)$' Ðof€the€case€as€it€did€not€propose€any€grounds€for€inadmissibility.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ4.2€Referring€to€the€jurisprudence€of€the€Committee,€the€State€party€recalls€that€in€order€to€beÐ ,`'* Ðpersonally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€sense€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€there€mustÐ -P(+ Ðnot€only€be€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rights€in€the€country€where€theÐ ð-@), Ðcomplainant€is€expelled€but€also€specific€grounds€indicating€that€the€complainant€is€personally€at€riskÐ ° Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture.€It€also€reminds€that€the€terms€ð ðsubstantial€groundsðð€imply€that€tortureÐ  ð Ðis€highly€likely€and€that€the€individual€must€face€a€foreseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€of€beingÐ à Ðtortured,€as€interpreted€in€the€light€of€the€Committeeððs€general€comment€No€1€on€the€implementationÐ €Ð Ðof€article€3.Ð pÀ ÐÌ4.3€Concerning€the€situation€in€Iran,€the€State€party,€referring€to€some€Views€of€the€Committee,Ð P   Ðargues€that€although€the€situation€is€disquieting€it€is€not€to€a€point€that€any€person€removed€to€IranÐ @  Ðwould€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€Moreover,€the€complainantððs€homosexuality€doesÐ 0 € Ðnot€in€itself€constitute€a€risk€incompatible€with€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Referring€to€a€numberÐ  p  Ðcountry€reports€carried€out€by€its€own€services,€the€State€party€is€of€the€view€that€althoughÐ `  Ðhomosexual€acts€are€prohibited€in€Iran€and€may€incur€the€death€penalty,€there€is€no€active€policy€ofÐ P  Ðprosecution.€Even€if€a€charge€of€homosexuality€is€in€some€cases€added€to€a€range€of€other€criminalÐ ð@  Ðcharges,€there€are€no€known€cases€of€convictions,€including€at€the€courtððs€own€discretion,€solely€forÐ à0  Ðhomosexual€acts.€It€is€further€noted€that€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€for€Refugees€hasÐ Ð  Ðnot€ð ðbeen€able€to€trace€any€cases€of€execution€of€persons€found€guilty€of€homosexual€relationsðð.Ð À ÐÌ4.4€Concerning€the€political€activities€of€his€brother,€Ali€Akbar,€the€State€party€considers€that€theÐ  ð Ðcomplainant€has€not€substantiated€that€they€would€imply€a€personal,€real€and€foreseeable€risk€ofÐ à Ðtorture€for€him€because€his€statements€in€that€regard€have€been€inconsistent,€vague€and€containedÐ €Ð Ðlittle€detail.€According€to€different€interviews,€the€complainant€has€been€arrested€once,€five€or€sixÐ pÀ Ðtimes,€or€more€than€forty€times€in€connection€with€his€brotherððs€political€activities.€Moreover,€whileÐ `° Ðthe€complainant€had€stated€that€his€brother€had€been€the€leader€of€a€Ô_ÔMujaheddinÔ_Ô€group,€his€brotherÐ P  Ðhimself€told€the€State€partyððs€authorities€that€he€was€only€a€sympathiser€of€the€Ô_ÔMujaheddinÔ_Ô€andÐ @ Ðdistributed€pamphlets,€but€undertook€no€further€activity€against€the€Iranian€government.Ð 0€ ÐÌ4.5€The€State€party€considers€that€it€is€implausible€that,€while€the€complainant€had€encountered€noÐ ` Ðproblems€in€this€respect€until€he€travelled€to€the€Netherlands€in€March€1992€with€the€permission€ofÐ P Ðthe€authorities,€he€was€arrested€upon€his€return€to€Iran,€that€his€passport€was€confiscated€and€that€heÐ ð@ Ðwas€interrogated€in€relation€with€his€brotherððs€activities.€The€State€party€refers€to€ministerial€reportsÐ à0 Ðaccording€to€which€it€is€impossible€for€persons€researched€by€the€authorities€to€travel€abroad€andÐ Ð  Ðnotes€that€thousands€of€Iranians€travel€annually€abroad€without€encountering€problems€at€their€returnÐ À! Ðin€the€country.€Ð °"  ÐÌ4.6€Moreover,€the€State€party€argues€that,€even€assuming€that€the€complainant€was€indeed€arrestedÐ $à" Ðafter€his€return€to€Iran€in€April€1992,€the€fact€that€he€was€released€shortly€afterwards€without€havingÐ €%Ð # Ðbeen€molested€and€that€the€political€activities€of€his€brother€took€place€17€years€ago€could€notÐ p&À!$ Ðconstitute€evidence€that€the€complainant€would€run€the€risk€of€being€tortured€for€that€reason.Ð `'°"% ÐÌ4.7€Concerning€his€sexual€preference,€the€State€party€notes€the€complainantððs€declarations€that€untilÐ @)$' ÐAugust€1992€and€prior€his€departure€from€Iran,€in€August€1993,€he€did€not€have€any€problems€withÐ 0*€%( Ðthe€Iranian€authorities€in€this€respect.€The€State€party€further€considers€that€his€arrest€in€August€1992Ð  +p&) Ðbecause€of€his€homosexuality€lacks€credibility€because€the€complainant€was€not€open€about€hisÐ ,`'* Ðsexual€preference.€It€is€similarly€implausible€that€his€partner,€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô,€whose€appearance€wasÐ -P(+ Ðpatently€homosexual,€was€not€arrested.€The€fact€that€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô€did€not€mention€theÐ ð-@), Ðcomplainantððs€arrest€in€his€asylum€hearings€because€of€their€relationship€also€permits€the€doubtsÐ ° Ðabout€the€veracity€of€this€claim€given€the€importance€of€such€a€detail.Ð  ð ÐÌ4.8€Concerning€the€death€penalty€to€which€he€was€sentenced€because€of€his€homosexuality,€theÐ €Ð Ðcomplainant€stated€in€his€first€interview€that€he€did€not€receive€any€document€recording€his€sentence.Ð pÀ ÐIn€April€1994,€he€stated€that€his€sentence€had€been€slipped€under€his€cell€door,€attached€to€a€pieceÐ ` ° Ðof€string.€He€later€stated€that€he€was€told€that€he€had€to€die€because€he€was€homosexual.€Finally,€inÐ P   ÐDecember€1994,€he€stated€that€his€death€sentence€had€been€read€out€to€him€at€the€Ô_ÔMonkeratÔ_Ô€office.Ð @  ÐÌ4.9€The€State€party€observes€that€the€complainantððs€account€of€his€detention€and€escape,€in€that€thereÐ  p  Ðwas€no€guard€in€the€evening€and€that€he€was€able€to€escape€into€a€garbage€truck€without€encounteringÐ `  Ðany€problems,€are€inconsistent€with€the€detention€of€a€person€under€sentence€of€death.Ð P  ÐÌ4.10€The€State€party€considers€that€the€jurisprudence€of€the€Committee€related€to€the€issue€ofÐ à0  Ðinconsistencies€and€contradictions€made€by€victims€of€torture€in€their€account€of€past€abuses€is€notÐ Ð  Ðapplicable€to€the€present€case€because€the€complainantððs€alleged€contradictions€relate€to€essentialÐ À Ðparts€of€his€persecutions.Ð ° ÐÌ4.11€Concerning€the€medical€reports€submitted€by€the€complainant,€the€State€party€argues€that€theyÐ à Ðconflict€with€the€complainantððs€lack€of€credibility€regarding€his€reasons€for€seeking€asylum.€TheÐ €Ð ÐState€party€therefore€considers€that€it€is€not€necessary€to€examine€whether€the€alleged€physicalÐ pÀ Ðsymptoms€are€indicative€of€torture€and€thus€relevant€for€the€assessment€of€the€complainantððs€claimÐ `° Ðand€that€it€is€incumbent€to€the€complainant€to€demonstrate€their€relevance€by€presenting€a€credibleÐ P  Ðclaim.€Moreover,€physicians€make€their€medical€findings€solely€within€the€limited€context€of€theÐ @ Ðstatements€made€to€them€so€that€the€causes€of€the€complainantððs€medical€situation€cannot€beÐ 0€ Ðascertained€objectively.Ð  p ÐÌ4.12€Finally,€the€State€party€considers€that€the€complainant€has€not€demonstrated€that,€since€hisÐ P Ðarrival€in€the€Netherlands,€his€sexual€preference€has€come€to€the€attention€of€the€Iranian€authorities,Ð ð@ Ðand€referring€again€to€the€reports€made€by€its€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs€according€to€whichÐ à0 Ðhomosexuality€remains€a€social€taboo€in€Iran,€that€it€is€implausible€that€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ôððs€familyÐ Ð  Ðwould€have€reported€to€the€authorities€about€the€reasons€for€his€death.€The€complainant€has€notÐ À! Ðfurther€demonstrated€that€he€is€likely€to€be€imprisoned€in€Iran,€let€alone€tortured,€because€of€theÐ °"  Ðmurder€of€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô€committed€in€another€country.Ð  #ð! ÐÌòòò òCounselððs€Commentsóóó óÐ €%Ð # ÐÌ5.1€In€a€submission€dated€30€May€2002,€the€complainant€transmitted€his€comments€on€theÐ `'°"% Ðobservations€of€the€State€party.Ð P( #& ÐÌ5.2€Regarding€the€absence€of€known€cases€of€recent€prosecutions€solely€on€a€charge€ofÐ 0*€%( Ðhomosexuality,€the€complainant€emphasizes€that€this€does€not€mean€that€there€are€not€any€and€thatÐ  +p&) Ðit€is€known€that€Iranian€authorities€are€reluctant€to€give€information€about€criminal€prosecutions.Ð ,`'* ÐMoreover,€according€to€an€Amnesty€International€report€transmitted€to€the€State€party€on€7Ð -P(+ ÐNovember€2001,€one€hundred€people€were€tortured€in€Iran€only€in€July€2001,€at€least€10€people€wereÐ ð-@), Ðhanged€and€one€hundred€death€sentences€were€upheld€by€the€Supreme€Court.€As€the€background€ofÐ ° Ðthese€incidents€is€most€of€the€time€difficult€to€ascertain,€homosexuality€may€in€some€cases€have€beenÐ  ð Ðat€issue.Ð à ÐÌ5.3€The€complainant€underlines€the€State€partyððs€observation€that€homosexual€acts€are€oftenÐ pÀ Ðprosecuted€together€with€other€criminal€charges.€He€states€that€this€is€exactly€what€he€expects€toÐ ` ° Ðhappen€in€his€case€since€the€body€of€his€partner€was€repatriated€to€Iran.€This€will€give€the€IranianÐ P   Ðauthorities€a€reason€to€add€a€criminal€charge€of€murder€to€that€of€homosexuality.€The€complainantÐ @  Ðconsiders€that€the€murder€he€committed€constitutes€in€itself€a€risk€of€being€tortured€if€returned€to€IranÐ 0 € Ðand€that€the€fact€that€he€has€already€been€punished€in€the€Netherlands€is€irrelevant.Ð  p  ÐÌ5.4€Regarding€the€alleged€contradictions€and€inconsistencies€of€his€account€of€the€facts,€theÐ P  Ðcomplainant€considers€that€the€State€party€misinterpreted€his€words,€particularly€on€the€question€ofÐ ð@  Ðhis€detention€on€account€of€his€brotherððs€political€activities.€During€the€first€interview€with€the€DutchÐ à0  Ðauthorities,€the€complainant€mentioned€that€he€was€arrested€once€because€of€his€homosexuality€andÐ Ð  Ðseveral€times€in€connection€with€his€brotherððs€political€activities.€His€following€declarations€aboutÐ À Ðhis€separate€and€different€arrests€were€either€related€to€arrests€by€the€Ô_ÔSepahÔ_Ô€or€by€the€Committee.€TheÐ ° Ðcomplainant€finally€notes€that€he€is€not€in€a€position€to€compare€his€interviews€with€those€of€hisÐ  ð Ðbrother€as€he€was€transmitted€the€file€by€the€State€party.Ð à ÐÌ5.5€Regarding€the€alleged€implausibility€that€he€was€arrested€in€August€1992€for€his€homosexualityÐ pÀ Ðbecause€he€was€not€open€about€his€sexual€preference,€the€complainant€reiterates€that€he€was€arrestedÐ `° Ðfurther€to€complaints€made€by€neighbours€who€saw€him€with€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô,€who€was€openlyÐ P  Ðhomosexual.€Moreover,€the€complainant€considers€that€it€is€perfectly€conceivable€that€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_ÔÐ @ Ðwent€into€hiding.Ð 0€ ÐÌ5.6€Regarding€the€fact€that€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô€did€not€mention€the€detention€of€the€complainant€duringÐ ` Ðhis€own€asylum€hearing,€it€is€noted€that€Ô_ÔKarimÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔHanwarÔ_Ô€was€not€specifically€interrogated€on€this€issueÐ P Ðand€that€interviews€were€short.€Ð ð@ ÐÌ5.7€The€complainant€confirms€that€he€never€received€any€document€recording€his€death€sentence,Ð Ð  Ðand€that€he€was€only€informed€of€it€when€the€sentence€was€pushed€under€his€cell€door€and€thenÐ À! Ðpulled€back.Ð °"  ÐÌ5.8€The€complainant€finally€submits€an€additional€report€made€by€ð ðÔ_ÔStichtingÔ_Ô€Centrum€ðð45ðð,€anÐ $à" Ðorganization€dealing€with€traumatized€war€victims€and€asylum€seekers,€according€to€which€hisÐ €%Ð # Ðsituation€is€worsening€and€that€serious€risk€of€ð ðbalance€suicideðð€exists.€Contrary€to€the€State€party,Ð p&À!$ Ðthe€complainant€considers€that€medical€reports€constitute€evidence€in€support€of€his€claim.€Moreover,Ð `'°"% Ðhe€notes€that€he€has€already€demonstrated€the€relevance€of€the€medical€reports.Ð P( #& ÐÌòòò òIssues€and€Proceedings€Before€the€Committeeóóó óÐ 0*€%( ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€must€decideÐ ,`'* Ðwhether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€has€ascertained,Ð -P(+ Ðas€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a)€of€the€Convention€that€the€same€matter€hasÐ ð-@), Ðnot€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigation€orÐ ° Ðsettlement.Ð  ð ÐÌ6.2€Moreover,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€has€not€submitted€any€objections€on€theÐ €Ð Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication,€including€with€regard€to€the€exhaustion€of€domestic€remedies.Ð pÀ ÐThe€Committee€therefore€declares€the€communication€admissible€and€proceeds€without€further€delayÐ ` ° Ðto€its€consideration€of€the€merits.Ð P   ÐÌ7.1€The€Committee€must€decide€whether€the€forced€return€of€the€complainant€to€Iran€would€violateÐ 0 € Ðthe€State€party's€obligation,€under€article€3,€paragraph€1€of€the€Convention,€not€to€expel€or€returnÐ  p  Ð(Ô_ÔòòrefouleróóÔ_Ô)€an€individual€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€heÐ `  Ðwould€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€In€order€to€reach€its€conclusion,€the€CommitteeÐ P  Ðmust€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€including€the€existence€in€the€State€concerned€ofÐ ð@  Ða€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim,€however,€is€toÐ à0  Ðdetermine€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€personally€risk€torture€in€the€country€to€whichÐ Ð  Ðhe€or€she€would€return.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ À Ðviolations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€sufficient€grounds€for€determiningÐ ° Ðwhether€the€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€thatÐ  ð Ðcountry;€additional€grounds€must€be€adduced€to€show€that€the€individual€concerned€would€beÐ à Ðpersonally€at€risk.€Conversely,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€human€rightsÐ €Ð Ðdoes€not€imply€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€hisÐ pÀ Ðor€her€specific€circumstances.Ð `° ÐÌ7.2€In€the€present€case,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€political€activities€of€the€complainantððs€brotherÐ @ Ðtook€place€more€than€17€years€ago€and€that€they€may€not€in€themselves€constitute€a€risk€for€theÐ 0€ Ðcomplainant€himself€to€be€subjected€to€torture,€if€he€were€returned€to€Iran.Ð  p ÐÌ7.3€Concerning€the€alleged€difficulties€faced€by€the€complainant€because€of€his€sexual€orientation,Ð P Ðthe€Committee€notes€a€number€of€contradictions€and€inconsistencies€in€his€account€of€past€abusesÐ ð@ Ðat€the€hand€of€the€Iranian€authorities,€as€well€as€the€fact€that€part€of€his€account€has€not€beenÐ à0 Ðadequately€substantiated€or€lacks€credibility.Ð Ð  ÐÌ7.4€The€Committee€also€notes€from€different€and€reliable€sources€that€there€currently€is€no€activeÐ °"  Ðpolicy€of€prosecution€of€charges€of€homosexuality€in€Iran.€Ð  #ð! ÐÌ7.5€In€the€light€of€the€arguments€presented€by€the€complainant€and€the€State€party,€the€CommitteeÐ €%Ð # Ðfinds€that€it€has€not€been€given€enough€evidence€by€the€complainant€to€conclude€that€the€latter€wouldÐ p&À!$ Ðrun€a€personal,€present€and€foreseeable€risk€of€being€tortured€if€returned€to€his€country€of€origin.Ð `'°"% ÐÌ8.€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention€againstÐ @)$' ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€considers€that€theÐ 0*€%( Ðcomplainant€has€not€substantiated€his€claim€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€torture€upon€return€to€IranÐ  +p&) Ðand€therefore€concludes€that€the€complainantððs€removal€to€that€country€would€not€constitute€a€breachÐ ,`'* Ðby€the€State€party€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ї[Adopted€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð ° ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic€and€Chinese€as€part€of€the€Committee's€annual€report€to€theÐ  ð ÐGeneral€Assembly.]Ð à ÐÌ____________________Ð pÀ Ðòòò òNotesóóó óÐ ` ° ÐÌòò1/óó€€The€complainant€explains€that€he€has€never€received€a€copy€of€the€judgment€and€that€he€was€onlyÐ @  Ðinformed€of€his€death€sentence€through€a€document€that€was€pushed€under€his€cell€door€and€thenÐ 0 € Ðimmediately€pulled€back.€He€is€therefore€not€in€a€position€to€give€the€date€of€the€judgment.Ð  p  Ð