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Dˆ”-rtyBarh3|x ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ dÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòA.€A.€v.€The€NetherlandsóóÐ à ÐÌCommunication€No.€198/2002Ð pÀ ÐÌ30€April€2003Ð P   ÐÌCAT/C/30/D/198/2002Ð 0 € ÐÌÌVIEWSó óÐ P  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€A.€A.Ð Ð  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€A.€A.Ð ° ÐÌòòState€Partyóó:€NetherlandsÐ à ÐÌòòDate€of€complaintóó:€10€October€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€30€April€2003,Ð ` ÐÌòòHaving€concludedóó€its€consideration€of€complaint€No.€198/2002,€submitted€to€the€Committee€againstÐ ð@ ÐTorture€by€Mr.€A€A€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 # ÐÓ-ÓÌÌÓ  Óò òòòDecision€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Conventionóóó óÐ P( #& ÐÓTÓÓ  ÓÌÌ1.1€The€petitioner€is,€a€Sudanese€citizen,€born€on€11€November€1968,€currently€residing€in€theÐ  +p&) ÐNetherlands,€where€he€has€requested€asylum.€He€claims€that€his€removal€to€Sudan€would€constituteÐ ,`'* Ða€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€by€the€Netherlands.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ð1.2€On€10€January€2002,€the€Committee,€in€accordance€with€rule€108€of€its€rules€of€procedures,Ð ° Ðrequested€the€State€party€not€to€expel€the€petitioner,€pending€the€consideration€of€his€case€by€theÐ  ð ÐCommittee.€On€11€March€2002,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€this€request€would€beÐ à Ðcomplied€with.Ð €Ð ÐÌòòò òThe€Facts€as€Submitted€by€the€Petitioneróóó óÐ ` ° ÐÌ2.1€The€petitioner€was€a€Ô_ÔpracticingÔ_Ô€lawyer€in€Sudan.€He€alleges€that€his€sister,€Ô_ÔZakiaÔ_Ô,€is€the€widowÐ @  Ðof€Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô€Mustafa€Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô,€who€was€one€of€the€28€persons€involved€in€the€coup€in€Sudan€in€1989,€forÐ 0 € Ðwhich€Mr.€Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô€was€executed.€The€petitionerððs€sister€later€became€active€in€an€oppositionÐ  p  Ðorganization€for€the€relatives€of€martyrs.€Since€1993,€the€petitioner€had€been€active€in€the€bannedÐ `  ÐDemocratic€Unionist€Party€(DUP)€belonging€to€al„Ô_ÔTajammuÔ_Ôðð€al„Ô_ÔWataniÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔliððadatÔ_Ô€al„Ô_ÔDimuqratiyaÔ_Ô€(theÐ P  ÐNational€Democratic€Alliance,€a€coalition€of€opposition€parties).€He€is€a€member€of€theÐ ð@  ÐSudanese€Bar€Association€since€1992.Ð à0  ÐÌ2.2€In€the€summer€1997,€a€pro„government€party€competed€with€DUP€in€elections€for€the€SudaneseÐ À ÐBar€Association.€During€preparations€for€the€elections,€DUP€organized€a€meeting€for€its€supporters.Ð ° ÐThe€petitioner€participated€as€one€of€the€organizers€and€speakers.€He€claims€that€the€meeting€wasÐ  ð Ðattended€by€so€many€people,€that€Sudanese€authorities€intervened€and€arrested€several€persons,Ð à Ðamong€them€the€petitioner.€He€alleges€that€he€was€subsequently€kept€in€a€detention€Ô_ÔcenterÔ_Ô€of€the€stateÐ €Ð Ðsecurity€service€in€Al€Khartoum„Ô_ÔBahriÔ_Ô€for€10€days,€during€which€he€was€questioned,€mistreated€andÐ pÀ Ðtortured.€He€was€then€conditionally€released€(travel€ban).Ð `° ÐÌ2.3€While€Ô_ÔtravelingÔ_Ô€to€Port€Sudan€to€participate€in€activities€for€the€opposition€party€in€SeptemberÐ @ Ð1997,€the€petitioner€was€arrested€for€the€second€time.€He€was€kept€in€detention€in€Ô_ÔSawakinÔ_Ô,€whereÐ 0€ Ðhe€was€questioned€and€allegedly€threatened€with€death.€After€3€days€in€detention,€he€claims€that€heÐ  p Ðwas€thrown€into€the€sea€and€was€picked€up€after€about€15€minutes.€He€was€then€brought€to€a€prisonÐ ` Ðwhere€he€was€detained€for€a€week.€Upon€release,€he€was€told€to€stop€his€political€activities.Ð P ÐÌ2.4€On€the€day€of€the€elections,€a€conflict€erupted€between€the€government€party€and€the€supportersÐ à0 Ðof€the€opposition€over€allegations€of€election€fraud.€The€petitioner€was€once€again€arrested€and€keptÐ Ð  Ðin€detention€for€3€days,€during€which€he€claims€to€have€been€tortured.€On€30€January€1998,€he€againÐ À! Ðwas€arrested€while€attending€a€mass€demonstration€that€he€had€helped€to€organize.€He€was€broughtÐ °"  Ðto€a€secret€underground€prison,€a€so„called€ð ðÔ_ÔghosthouseÔ_Ôðð,€where€he€was€kept€in€detention€for€aboutÐ  #ð! Ð2€months.€He€managed€to€escape€from€the€prison€and€fled€to€the€Netherlands,€where€he€arrived€onÐ $à" Ð13€April€1998.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ2.5€The€petitioner€requested€asylum€in€the€Netherlands€on€15€April€1998.€On€12€May€1998,€theÐ `'°"% Ðmigration€authorities€interviewed€with€him,€and€the€Secretary€of€Justice€rejected€his€request€asÐ P( #& Ðmanifestly€ill€founded€on€23€May€1999.€The€petitionerððs€request€for€residence€on€humanitarianÐ @)$' Ðgrounds€was€also€rejected.€Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ2.6€On€14€April€2000,€the€Secretary€of€Justice€rejected€his€request€for€a€review€of€the€decision.Ð ,`'* ÐFurthermore,€the€petitionerððs€appeal€to€the€Hague€District€Court€was€rejected€on€29€March€2001.Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ðòòò òThe€Complaintóóó óÐ ° ÐÌ3.€The€petitioner€claims€that€if€returned€to€Sudan,€he€would€be€subjected€to€torture.€In€substantiationÐ à Ðof€this€fear,€he€provides€his€history€of€previous€detention,€with€allegations€that€he€was€tortured€onÐ €Ð Ðaccount€of€his€political€activity€in€Sudan.€He€further€indicates€that€there€is€a€consistent€pattern€ofÐ pÀ Ðhuman€rights€violations€committed€by€Sudanese€authorities,€and€refers€to€reports€by€human€rightsÐ ` ° Ðnon„governmental€organizations,€and€documents€of€the€United€Nations€Commission€on€€HumanÐ P   ÐRights.Ð @  ÐÌò òòòThe€State€Partyððs€Observations€on€the€Admissibility€and€Merits.óóó óÐ  p  ÐÌ4.1€By€note€Ô_ÔverbaleÔ_Ô€dated€11€March€2002,€the€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€it€does€notÐ P  Ðobject€to€the€admissibility€of€the€petition.€The€State€party€presented€its€observations€on€the€meritsÐ ð@  Ðof€the€petition€on€9€July€2002.Ð à0  ÐÌ4.2€The€State€party€contends€that€petitionerððs€return€would€not€violate€its€obligations€under€articleÐ À Ð3€of€the€Convention.€It€gives€a€detailed€description€of€the€national€proceedings€in€the€case.Ð ° ÐAdmission€and€expulsion€of€aliens€are€regulated€by€the€1965€Aliens€Act,€the€Aliens€Decree,€theÐ  ð ÐRegulation€of€Aliens€and€the€1994€Aliens€Act€Implementation€Guidelines.€òò1/óóÐ à ÐÌ4.3€The€first€interview€of€an€asylum€seeker€takes€place€as€soon€as€possible.€It€is€conducted€on€theÐ pÀ Ðbasis€of€a€form€on€which€the€asylum€seeker€fills€in€relevant€data.€At€this€stage€he€is€not€asked€aboutÐ `° Ðthe€reasons€for€leaving€his€country€of€origin.€This€interview€is€followed€by€a€second€one€whichÐ P  Ðfocuses€on€the€reasons€for€leaving€the€country€of€origin.€The€asylum€seeker€or€his€representativeÐ @ Ðreceive€a€copy€of€the€report€made€by€the€interviewing€officer,€and€have€at€least€two€days€to€submitÐ 0€ Ðcorrections€or€additions.€A€decision€is€then€made€by€an€Immigration€and€Naturalisation€ServiceÐ  p Ð(INS)€official€on€behalf€of€the€State€Secretary€for€Justice.Ð ` ÐÌ4.4€If€an€application€for€admission€as€refugee€or€for€a€residence€permit€is€denied,€the€asylum€seekerÐ ð@ Ðmay€lodge€an€objection.€The€decision€is€reviewed€by€a€committee,€which€interviews€the€asylumÐ à0 Ðseeker.€If€the€objection€is€declared€unfounded,€an€appeal€can€be€lodged€with€the€Hague€DistrictÐ Ð  ÐCourt,€with€no€possible€further€appeal,€as€provided€under€the€1965€Aliens€Act.€òò2/óóÐ À! ÐÌ4.5€The€State€party€affirms€that€the€Dutch€Minister€of€Foreign€Affairs€issues€periodically€countryÐ  #ð! Ðreports€òò3/óó€€on€the€human€rights€situation€in€Sudan.€According€to€the€Sudan€report€of€September€1998,Ð $à" Ðafter€the€coup€led€by€General€Omar€Hassan€al„Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô€on€30€June€1989,€all€political€parties€wereÐ €%Ð # Ðbanned,€the€leaders€left€the€country€or€continued€their€political€activities€in€hiding.€The€NationalÐ p&À!$ ÐIslamic€Front€(Ô_ÔNIFÔ_Ô)€remained€the€only€influential€political€force.€Since€1993,€Omar€Hassan€al€ð!ðÐ `'°"% ÐÔ_ÔBashirÔ_Ô€has€been€the€President€of€Sudan.€The€Ô_ÔNIFÔ_Ô€has€a€large€majority€in€parliament.€The€report€notedÐ P( #& Ðthat€arbitrary€arrests€and€detention€without€charge€were€current.€Supporters€of€banned€politicalÐ @)$' Ðparties,€trade€union€officials,€lawyers€and€human€rights€activists€were€among€the€potential€victims.Ð 0*€%( ÐMembers€of€these€groups€had€been€known€to€ð ð€disappear€ð ð,€ending€up€on€the€security€servicesðð€ð ðÐ  +p&) Ðghost€houses€ð ð,€or€being€harassed€in€other€ways€by€the€security€services.Ð ,`'* ÐÌ4.6€The€State€party€argues€that€according€to€the€above€report,€political€prisoners€were€mainlyÐ ð-@), Ðdetained€in€the€Khartoum€North€Central€Prison€(Ô_ÔKoberÔ_Ô€prison).€By€European€standards,€the€livingÐ ° Ðconditions€in€that€prison€were€poor,€but€the€prohibition€of€torture€was€respected.€The€military€andÐ  ð Ðsecurity€services€had€their€own€detention€centres,€where€torture€and€detention€without€charge€wereÐ à Ðfrequent.€ð ðGhost€housesðð€were€unofficial€detention€centres,€not€subjected€to€any€form€of€oversight.Ð €Ð ÐDetention€generally€lasted€from€few€a€days€to€three€weeks.€The€purpose€was€to€intimidate€suspectedÐ pÀ Ðpolitical€adversaries;€detainees€were€subjected€to€mental€and€physical€abuse€and€torture.€The€armedÐ ` ° Ðattacks€in€eastern€Sudan€led€to€increased€use€of€these€centres€in€the€first€half€of€1997,€but€once€theÐ P   Ðgovernment€established€greater€control€over€the€situation€later€in€1997,€their€use€declined.€TheÐ @  ÐMinister€concluded€that€since€1997,€some€positive€changes€in€Sudan€were€discernible.€The€situationÐ 0 € Ðwas€not€such€as€to€imply€that€it€would€be€irresponsible€to€return€a€Sudanese€national€whoseÐ  p  Ðapplication€for€admission€as€a€refugee€or€for€a€residence€permit€on€humanitarian€grounds€hadÐ `  Ðbeen€refused€after€careful€consideration.Ð P  ÐÌ4.7€By€letter€of€20€November€1998,€the€State€Secretary€for€justice€notified€the€House€ofÐ à0  ÐRepresentatives€of€his€decision€that€Northern€Sudanese€asylum€seekers€would€no€longer€be€eligibleÐ Ð  Ðfor€provisional€residence€permits.€òò4/óó€€On€2€June€1999,€the€Legal€Uniformity€(Alien€affairs)€DivisionÐ À Ðconcluded€that,€on€the€basis€of€the€information€available,€the€State€Secretary€for€Justiceððs€decisionÐ ° Ðwas€justified.Ð  ð ÐÌ4.8€The€country€report€of€1999€stated€that€the€human€rights€situation€in€Sudan€had€improved€slightlyÐ €Ð Ðbut€remained€a€cause€of€concern.€Especially,€the€situation€in€the€conflict€areas€was€troubling.Ð pÀ ÐArbitrary€arrest€and€detention€had€become€less€common,€but€were€still€possible€under€the€NationalÐ `° ÐSecurity€Act€and€the€Criminal€Code€(no€date€specified).Ð P  ÐÌ4.9€On€21€July€2000,€the€Minister€of€Foreign€Affairs€released€a€supplementary€report€on€the€policyÐ 0€ Ðof€a€number€of€Western€countries€on€the€return€of€Sudanese€whose€applications€for€asylum€wereÐ  p Ðunsuccessful.€The€country€reports€of€1999€and€2000€led€the€State€Secretary€for€Justice€to€alter€hisÐ ` Ðpolicy€on€Ô_ÔcategorialÔ_Ô€protection.€In€particular,€members€of€the€non„Arabic€South€Sudanese€groups€orÐ P ÐÔ_ÔNubaÔ_Ô€groups€who,€before€leaving€the€country,€had€resided€undisturbed€in€Northern€Sudan€were,€noÐ ð@ Ðmore€eligible€for€provisional€residence€permits.Ð à0 ÐÌ4.10€The€State€partyððs€latest€country€report€of€March€2001€notes€that€the€human€rights€situation€hadÐ À! Ðimproved€slightly€but€remained€a€cause€of€concern,€especially€in€conflict€areas.€President€al„Ô_ÔBashirÔ_ÔÐ °"  Ðreplaced€the€Ô_ÔTawaliÔ_Ô€Act€of€January€1999€by€new€Act€on€Political€Parties,€permitting€political€partiesÐ  #ð! Ðof€100€members€or€more€to€conduct€political€activities.€The€report€states€that€political€parties€canÐ $à" Ðcarry€out€political€activities€without€adverse€consequences€to€a€reasonable€extent.€There€is€noÐ €%Ð # Ðcomplete€freedom,€however.€Political€leaders,€for€instance,€have€on€several€occasions€beenÐ p&À!$ Ðsummoned€for€questioning€by€security€services€and€one€arrest€has€been€reported.€There€were,Ð `'°"% Ðhowever,€no€cases€of€detention€lasting€longer€than€a€day€or€of€a€serious€abuse,€as€there€were€before.Ð P( #& ÐParties,€such€as€the€UP€and€DUP,€enjoyed€more€freedom€than€before.€Members€of€the€northernÐ @)$' Ðopposition€returned€to€Sudan€in€response€to€the€ð ðMotherland€Callðð€and€an€amnesty€for€politicalÐ 0*€%( Ðrefugees€living€in€exile€announced€by€President€al„Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô€on€several€occasions€and€put€in€writing€onÐ  +p&) Ð3€June€2000.€Accordingly,€the€State€partyððs€policy€in€relation€to€residence€requests€from€SudaneseÐ ,`'* Ðasylum€seekers€remained€intact.Ð -P(+ ÐÐ ð-@), Ð4.11€In€relation€to€the€petitionerððs€personal€situation,€the€State€party€recalls€that€he€claims€to€haveÐ ° Ðbegun€work€as€a€lawyer€in€Khartoum€in€March€1992,€and€he€was€member€of€the€trade€union€forÐ  ð ÐSudanese€lawyers€(ð ð€the€lawyersðð€union€ð ð).€In€1993,€he€became€a€member€of€the€DemocraticÐ à ÐUnionist€Party€(DUP),€belonging€to€the€National€Democratic€Alliance.€The€lawyers€union€had€twoÐ €Ð Ðfractions:€one€supporting€the€regime€in€power,€and€one€supporting€the€DUP.€The€petitioner€carriedÐ pÀ Ðout€activities€for€the€DUP€within€the€lawyers€union,€mainly€by€coordinating€and€organizing€meetingsÐ ` ° Ðwith€the€aim€of€overthrowing€the€regime.€According€to€the€petitioner,€his€troubles€started€in€JulyÐ P   Ð1997,€during€the€preparation€for€elections€for€the€members€of€the€board€of€the€lawyers€union,€to€beÐ @  Ðheld€in€November€1997.€He€states€that€the€authorities€had€harboured€ill„will€towards€him€and€hisÐ 0 € Ðfamily€even€before€then,€because€his€brother€in€law,€Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô€Mustafa€Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô,€had€been€one€of€the€29Ð  p  Ðofficers€executed€for€their€involvement€in€an€attempt€coup€on€28€June€1989.Ð `  ÐÌ4.12€The€State€party€notes€that€the€petitioner€was€arrested€four€times:€in€July€1997,€during€a€meetingÐ ð@  Ðin€the€offices€of€the€lawyers€union€in€relation€to€the€coming€elections;€in€September€1997,€when€heÐ à0  Ðwanted€to€attend€a€party€meeting€in€Port€Sudan€and€went€to€obtain€a€travel€permit€from€the€securityÐ Ð  Ðservices;€he€was€informed€that€after€his€arrest€in€1997,€he€was€no€longer€allowed€to€travel.€HeÐ À Ðdeparted€nevertheless,€but€was€arrested€in€Ô_ÔSawakinÔ_Ô€and€placed€in€custody.€After€3€days,€he€wasÐ ° Ðthrown€into€the€ocean€by€the€security€services.€He€claims€that€this€was€done€to€scare€him;€he€wasÐ  ð Ðpicked€up€by€a€trawler,€accused€of€arms€trafficking€and€of€leaving€Sudan€illegally€and€turned€overÐ à Ðto€the€security€services€again.€He€was€detained€during€seven€days,€after€which€he€was€released.€TheÐ €Ð Ðthird€arrest€was€in€November€1997,€when€he€was€monitoring€the€elections€within€the€lawyers€union.Ð pÀ ÐThe€final€arrest€took€place€on€30€January€1998,€during€a€demonstration.€The€petitioner€alleged€thatÐ `° Ðhe€was€transported€to€a€ghost€house,€where€major€opponents€of€the€regime€were€detained.€He€wasÐ P  Ðkept€in€a€solitary€cell,€measuring€0.5€by€3€Ô_ÔmetersÔ_Ô€and€was€interrogated€twice,€and€subjected€toÐ @ Ðpsychological€torture.€On€20€March€1998,€he€was€interrogated€by€a€former€classmate€from€secondaryÐ 0€ Ðschool.€The€former€classmate€decided€to€help€the€petitioner,€and€told€him€how€to€escape€from€theÐ  p Ðcell.€On€25€March€1998,€he€left€Sudan€by€ship€from€Port€Sudan.Ð ` ÐÌ4.13€The€State€party€recalls€that€the€petitioner€applied€for€asylum€and€for€a€residence€permit€on€15Ð ð@ ÐApril€1998.€On€12€May€1998,€he€was€interviewed€by€an€IND€official,€with€the€help€of€an€ArabicÐ à0 Ðinterpreter,€regarding€the€reasons€for€seeking€asylum.€By€a€decision€of€23€May€1999,€his€applicationÐ Ð  Ðwas€rejected€as€manifestly€ill„founded;€his€application€for€resident€permit€was€also€rejected.€On€17Ð À! ÐJune€he€lodged€an€objection€against€the€decision€of€23€May€1998;€on€10€February€2000€he€wasÐ °"  Ðinterviewed€by€a€committee€regarding€his€objection.€The€objection€was€declared€unfounded€on€14Ð  #ð! ÐApril€2000.€The€petitioner€lodged€an€appeal€against€that€decision€on€9€May€2000.€By€judgment€ofÐ $à" Ð29€March€2001,€the€Hague€District€Court€declared€the€appeal€unfounded.Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ4.14€The€State€party€considers€that€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross€violations€of€humanÐ `'°"% Ðrights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€particularÐ P( #& Ðperson€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€specificÐ @)$' Ðgrounds€must€exist€to€the€effect€that€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€òò5/óó€€TheÐ 0*€%( ÐState€party€recalls€that€ð ðsubstantial€groundsðð€require€more€than€a€mere€possibility€of€torture€but€needÐ  +p&) Ðnot€be€highly€likely€in€order€to€satisfy€that€provisionððs€conditions.€òò6/óóÐ ,`'* ÐÌ4.15€The€State€party€invokes€the€Committeeððs€general€comment€on€article€3,€in€particular€paragraphsÐ ð-@), Ð6€and€7,€òò7/óó€€and€the€Committeeððs€Views€in€communication€no.€142/1999,€Ô_ÔS.S.Ô_Ô€and€Ô_ÔS.A.Ô_Ô€vÐ ° ÐNetherlands.Ð  ð ÐÌ4.16€The€State€party,€in€relation€to€the€petitionerððs€personal€risk€in€the€event€if€his€return€to€Sudan,Ð €Ð Ðnotes€that€the€current€human€rights€situation€in€Sudan,€though€a€cause€of€concern,€does€not€provideÐ pÀ Ðsubstantial€grounds€for€believing€that€all€Sudanese€are€in€general€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toÐ ` ° Ðtorture.€The€State€party€refers€to€the€Minister€of€Foreign€Affairððs€country€reports€and€to€theÐ P   ÐCommitteeððs€jurisprudence.Ð @  ÐÌ4.17€For€the€State€party,€the€fact€the€petitioner€was€a€lawyer€and€a€member€of€the€DUP,€does€not€inÐ  p  Ðitself€constitute€sufficient€grounds€for€assuming€that€if€he€were€returned€to€Sudan,€he€would€be€inÐ `  Ðdanger€of€being€subjected€to€treatment€contrary€to€article€3€of€the€Convention.€The€State€partyÐ P  Ðinvokes€the€country€reports€of€the€Minister€of€Foreign€Affairs€referred€to€above.€Though€completeÐ ð@  Ðfreedom€for€activists€of€political€parties€has€yet€to€arrive,€there€are€no€longer€any€cases€of€detentionÐ à0  Ðlasting€longer€than€a€day,€or€other€serious€abuse.€Furthermore,€in€response€to€the€ð ðMotherland€CallððÐ Ð  Ðand€the€proclamation€of€an€amnesty,€important€members€of€the€northern€opposition€have€returnedÐ À Ðto€Sudan.€Ð ° ÐÌ4.18€In€the€State€partyððs€opinion,€it€cannot€be€concluded€that€the€petitioner€would€run€a€foreseeable,Ð à Ðreal€and€personal€risk€of€being€tortured€if€returned€to€his€country€of€origin.€There€remained€someÐ €Ð Ðdoubt€as€to€the€credibility€of€the€petitionerððs€allegations€that€the€authorities€harbour€ill„will€towardsÐ pÀ Ðhim€and€his€family,€because€his€brother€in€law€participated€in€a€coup€attempt€on€23€September€1989.Ð `° ÐThe€State€party€argues€that€it€is€not€aware€of€a€coup€attempt€on€that€date;€all€its€reports€stated€thatÐ P  Ða€coup€took€place€on€30€June€1989,€under€the€leadership€of€Lieutenant„General€al„Ô_ÔBashirÔ_Ô,€since€thenÐ @ Ðthe€President€of€Sudan.€The€State€party€argues€that€the€petitioner€has€failed€to€substantiate€his€claimsÐ 0€ Ðthat€his€problems€with€the€authorities€in€1989€arose€as€a€result€of€the€activities€of€his€brother€in€law,Ð  p Ðand€were€such€that€he€must€fear€treatment€in€violation€of€the€Convention.Ð ` ÐÌ4.19€The€State€party€dismisses€as€implausible€the€petitionerððs€allegation€that€he€was€detained€formÐ ð@ Ð30€January€1998€to€23€March€1998.€His€statements€allegedly€were€contradictory,€vague€andÐ à0 Ðimprecise.€In€particular,€he€gave€contradictory€accounts€of€the€number€of€people€present€at€hisÐ Ð  Ðinterrogations.Ð À! ÐÌ4.20€The€petitioner€was€unable,€according€to€the€State€party,€to€provide€details€about€the€prison€inÐ  #ð! Ðwhich€he€was€held€and,€despite€having€been€detained€for€over€two€months,€could€not€describe€hisÐ $à" Ðcell€in€any€detail.€The€State€party€dismiss€as€implausible€his€statement€that€obstacles€in€the€cell€madeÐ €%Ð # Ðit€impossible€for€him€to€walk.€It€is€unimaginable,€in€the€State€partyððs€opinion,€that€during€a€detentionÐ p&À!$ Ðof€almost€two€months,€he€would€not€investigated€his€surroundings.€He€should€have€been€able€toÐ `'°"% Ðdescribe€his€cell€in€more€detail,€at€least€because€he€alleges€that€food€was€thrown€into€his€cell€daily.Ð P( #& ÐÌ4.21€The€State€party€voices€doubts€about€the€ease€with€which€the€petitioner€claims€to€have€been€ableÐ 0*€%( Ðto€leave€his€prison.€It€contends€that€it€stretches€imagination€that€major€Sudanese€opponents€of€theÐ  +p&) Ðregime€would€be€detained€in€a€prison€with€unlocked€doors.€The€State€party€also€considers€it€curiousÐ ,`'* Ðthat€the€petitioner€was€able€to€leave€undetected€in€a€car€that€was€waiting€for€him€only€100€Ô_ÔmetersÔ_ÔÐ -P(+ Ðfrom€the€prison.€As€final€conclusion,€the€State€party€considers€implausible€the€petitionerððs€accountÐ ð-@), Ðof€his€detention.Ð ° ÐÌ4.22€The€State€party€concludes€that,€in€its€opinion,€the€inconsistencies€in€the€petitionerððs€presentationÐ à Ðof€the€facts€are€material€and€raise€doubts€about€the€veracity€of€his€claims;€these€inconsistencies€areÐ €Ð Ðrelated€to€essential€aspects€of€the€reasons€given€by€him€for€leaving€Sudan.€The€State€party€believesÐ pÀ Ðthat€there€were€sufficient€grounds€for€regarding€it€as€implausible€that€the€Sudanese€authoritiesÐ ` ° Ðharbour€ill„will€towards€him€and€that,€as€a€result,€he€would,€on€returning€to€Sudan,€be€in€danger€ofÐ P   Ðtorture,€or€that€the€grounds€for€this€belief€are€substantial€in€a€way€that€such€danger€would€beÐ @  Ðpersonal€and€present.Ð 0 € ÐÌ4.23€The€State€party€contends€that€even€if€credence€was€given€to€the€petitionerððs€statementsÐ `  Ðregarding€his€problems€in€connection€with€his€activities€for€the€DUP€within€the€lawyersðð€union,€thisÐ P  Ðdoes€not€justify€the€conclusion€that€he€would€undergo€treatment€contrary€to€article€3€of€theÐ ð@  ÐConvention€if€he€were€now€to€return€to€Sudan.€The€State€party€notes€that€it€does€not€find€it€plausibleÐ à0  Ðthat€the€Sudanese€authorities€were€fully€aware€of€the€petitionerððs€individual€political€activities€givenÐ Ð  Ðthat€they€were€carried€out€under€cover€of€the€lawyersðð€union.€The€State€party€notes€also€thatÐ À Ðaccording€to€the€petitionerððs€own€statements,€he€was€never€personally€arrested€or€ill„treated€(in€itsÐ ° Ðown€home€town,€for€instance)€by€the€authorities.€His€arrests€took€place€once€in€the€context€ofÐ  ð Ðintervention€by€the€police€during€a€large„scale€disruption€of€public€order€and€once€because€he€hadÐ à Ðviolated€a€travel€ban.Ð €Ð ÐÌ4.24€The€State€party€further€concludes€that€given€the€general€situation€in€Sudan€and€the€personalÐ `° Ðcircumstances€of€the€petitioner,€there€is€no€reason€to€conclude€that€substantial€grounds€exist€forÐ P  Ðbelieving€that€the€petitioner€would€run€a€foreseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€of€being€subjected€toÐ @ Ðtorture€upon€his€return€in€Sudan.Ð 0€ ÐÌò òòòThe€Petitionerððs€Commentsóóó óÐ ` ÐÌ5.1€In€his€comments€on€the€State€partyððs€observations€of€22€December€2002,€the€petitioner€notes€theÐ ð@ ÐState€partyððs€expression€of€òòsome€óódoubts€about€the€credibility€of€his€statements,€and€argues€thatÐ à0 Ðð ðsomeðð€doubts€is€insufficient€to€contest€the€credibility€of€his€statements.€He€challenges€the€StateÐ Ð  Ðpartyððs€doubts€about€the€credibility€of€his€statements€related€to€his€detention€from€30€January€1998Ð À! Ðto€23€March€1998.€He€notes€that€the€State€party€does€not€contest€his€involvement€in€theÐ °"  Ðdemonstration€on€30€January€1998,€and€declares€that€the€contradictions€pointed€by€the€State€partyÐ  #ð! Ðare€minor€ones.€He€dismisses€the€State€partyððs€observations€as€speculative€because€it€did€not€takeÐ $à" Ðinto€consideration€that€he€was€detained€in€a€ð ðÔ_ÔghosthouseÔ_Ôðð€which€is€not€a€normal€detention€facility,Ð €%Ð # Ðand€information€on€such€ð ðÔ_ÔghosthousesÔ_Ôðð€is€not€readily€available.€He€objects€that€the€State€party€didÐ p&À!$ Ðnot€take€into€consideration€the€circumstances€under€which€he€was€detained€and€the€fact€that€he€wasÐ `'°"% Ðat€that€time€already€a€victim€of€previous€acts€of€torture.Ð P( #& ÐÌ5.3€According€to€the€petitioner,€the€State€party€has€not€expressed,€before,€explicitly€doubts€about€theÐ 0*€%( Ðcredibility€of€his€statements€concerning€his€first,€second€and€third€detentions.€The€petitioner€viewsÐ  +p&) Ðhis€statements€as€detailed,€consistent€and€without€contradictions.Ð ,`'* ÐÌ5.4€The€petitioner€contests€the€State€partyððs€conclusion€in€paragraph€4.24€above.€He€recalls€that,€first,Ð ð-@), Ðsince€the€lawyers€union€elections€were€highly€political,€it€is€not€implausible€that€the€authorities€wereÐ ° Ðaware€of€his€political€involvement.€He€reiterates€that€he€was€questioned€about€his€activities€and€heÐ  ð Ðwas€asked€to€stop€them.Ð à ÐÌ5.5€The€petitioner€further€argues€that€the€facts€do€not€support€the€State€partyððs€observation€that€heÐ pÀ Ðwas€not€ð ðsingled€outðð.€The€first€time€he€was€arrested,€questioned€and€tortured,€he€was€one€of€theÐ ` ° Ðorganizers€and€speakers€of€the€meeting€in€the€lawyersðð€union€offices.€The€second€time€he€wasÐ P   Ðarrested,€detained€and€tortured,€and€told€to€stop€his€political€activities,€after€he€violated€a€travel€ban.Ð @  ÐThe€third€time,€he€was€among€those€who€had€detected€an€electoral€fraud€scheme.Ð 0 € ÐÌ5.6€The€petitioner€considers€also€that€the€State€party€should,€but€did€not,€take€into€consideration€thatÐ `  Ðevery€time€he€was€detained,€he€was€tortured.€Ð P  ÐÌ5.7€Finally,€the€petitioner€states€that€the€State€party€should,€but€did€not,€take€into€account€thatÐ à0  Ðlawyers€in€his€position€remain€a€group€at€risk€in€Sudan.€òò8/óóÐ Ð  ÐÌò òòòIssues€Before€the€Committeeóóó óÐ ° ÐÌ6.€Before€considering€any€claim€contained€in€a€complaint,€the€Committee€must€decide€whether€orÐ à Ðnot€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€has€ascertained,€as€it€isÐ €Ð Ðrequired€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention,€that€the€same€matter€has€not€beenÐ pÀ Ðor€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.€TheÐ `° ÐCommittee€notes€that€the€State€party€has€not€raised€any€objections€to€the€admissibility€of€theÐ P  Ðcommunication,€and€that€it€has€requested€the€Committee€to€proceed€to€an€examination€of€the€merits.Ð @ ÐThe€Committee€concludes€that€no€obstacles€to€the€admissibility€of€the€complaint€exist€and€proceedsÐ 0€ Ðwith€the€consideration€of€the€merits.Ð  p ÐÌ7.1€The€Committee€has€considered€the€complaint€in€the€light€of€all€the€information€made€availableÐ P Ðto€it€by€the€parties,€in€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€4,€of€the€Convention.Ð ð@ ÐÌ7.2€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€or€not€the€forced€return€of€the€petitioner€to€SudanÐ Ð  Ðwould€violate€the€State€partyððs€obligation,€under€article€3€of€the€Convention,€not€to€expel€or€to€returnÐ À! Ða€person€to€another€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€dangerÐ °"  Ðof€being€subjected€to€torture.Ð  #ð! ÐÌ7.3€The€Committee€recalls€that€in€reaching€its€decision,€it€must€take€into€account€all€relevantÐ €%Ð # Ðconsiderations,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€ofÐ p&À!$ Ðgross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€The€aim€of€the€determination,€however,€is€toÐ `'°"% Ðestablish€whether€the€individual€concerned€would€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€tortureÐ P( #& Ðin€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€would€be€returned.€It€follows€that€the€existence€of€a€consistentÐ @)$' Ðpattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constituteÐ 0*€%( Ða€sufficient€ground€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedÐ  +p&) Ðto€torture€upon€his€return€to€that€country;€additional€grounds€must€exist€to€show€that€the€individualÐ ,`'* Ðconcerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€grossÐ -P(+ Ðviolations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€be€considered€to€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ ð-@), Ðsubjected€to€torture€in€his€or€her€specific€circumstances.Ð ° ÐÌ7.4€In€the€instant€case,€the€Committee€notes€the€inconsistencies€in€the€petitioner's€account,€as€pointedÐ à Ðout€by€the€State€party,€as€well€as€the€general€failure€by€the€petitioner,€to€substantiate€his€allegationsÐ €Ð Ðthat€he€was€subjected€to€torture.€Ð pÀ ÐÌ7.5€The€Committee€further€notes€the€State€partyððs€remarks€that€the€petitioner€failed€to€give€anyÐ P   Ðinformation€on€the€conditions€of€detention€in€a€so„called€ð ðÔ_ÔghosthouseÔ_Ôðð,€that€he€failed€to€describe€theÐ @  Ðcell€in€which€he€alleges€to€have€been€detained€for€several€weeks.€The€petitioner€has€not€respondedÐ 0 € Ðto€these€arguments€other€than€by€noting€that€it€is€insufficient€for€the€State€party€to€manifest€ð ðsomeÐ  p  Ðdoubtsðð€about€the€credibility€of€his€statements.€The€Committee€also€notes€that€the€petitioner€failedÐ `  Ðto€respond€to€the€doubts€voiced€by€the€State€party€concerning€the€ease€with€which€he€claims€to€haveÐ P  Ðbeen€able€to€leave€the€prison.Ð ð@  ÐÌ7.6€The€Committee€finally€notes€the€State€partyððs€observations€on€the€evolution€of€the€politicalÐ Ð  Ðsystem€in€Sudan€over€the€last€few€years,€in€particular€the€legalisation€of€the€political€parties,€theÐ À Ðpresidential€amnesty€of€political€refugees€of€3€June€2000,€and€the€ð ðMotherland€callðð€under€whichÐ ° Ðimportant€members€of€the€opposition€have€returned€to€Sudan.€The€Committee€notes€that€theÐ  ð Ðpetitioner€has€not€challenged€any€of€these€arguments€in€his€comments.Ð à ÐÌ7.7€On€the€basis€of€the€above,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€information€made€available€by€theÐ pÀ Ðpetitioner€does€not€show€that€substantial€grounds€exist€for€believing€that€he€would€be€personally€inÐ `° Ðdanger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€event€of€his€return€to€Sudan.Ð P  ÐÌ8.€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ 0€ ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€is€of€the€view€that€the€return€of€theÐ  p Ðpetitioner€to€Sudan€by€the€State€party€would€not€constitute€a€violation€to€article€3€of€the€ConventionÐ ` Ðby€the€Netherlands.Ð P ÐÌÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€Ô_ÔoriginalversionÔ_Ô.Ð Ð  ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic€and€Chinese€as€part€of€the€Committee's€annual€report€to€theÐ À! ÐGeneral€Assembly.]Ð °"  ÐÌ____________________Ð $à" ÐòòNotesóóÐ €%Ð # ÐÌòò1/óó€€Preliminary,€the€State€party€informs€the€Committee€that€although€on€1€April€2001,€a€new€AliensÐ `'°"% ÐAct€entered€into€force€that€has€no€consequences€of€substance€for€the€petitionerððs€situation.Ð P( #& ÐÌòò2/óó€€The€State€party€declares,€however,€that€a€Legal€Uniformity€Division€exists€within€the€HagueÐ 0*€%( ÐDistrict€Court,€in€order€to€promote€consistency€in€the€application€of€the€law€in€asylum€cases€andÐ  +p&) Ðother€Ô_ÔpoceedingsÔ_Ô€involving€aliens.Ð ,`'* ÐÌòò3/óó€€The€reports€on€the€situation€in€countries€of€origin€are€issued,€using€information€of€nonÐ ð-@), Ðgovernmental€organisations€and€reports€received€by€the€Dutch€diplomatic€missionsÐ ° ÐÌòò4/óó€€The€State€party€explains€that€this€type€of€policy€is€known€in€the€Netherlands€as€Ô_ÔcategorialÔ_ÔÐ à Ðprotection€(òòÔ_ÔcategorialeÔ_Ô€Ô_ÔbeschermingÔ_Ôóó)Ð €Ð ÐÌòò5/óó€€The€State€party€recalls€the€Committeesðð€Views€in€communications€no.€91/1997,€òòA.€v.Ð ` ° ÐNetherlandsóó,€and€no.€94/1997,€òòÔ_ÔK.N.Ô_Ô€v.€SwitzerlandóóÐ P   ÐÌòò6/óó€€The€State€party€refers€to€the€Committeeððs€Views€in€communication€no.€28/1995,€òòÔ_ÔE.A.Ô_ÔÐ 0 € ÐSwitzerland.Ð  p  ÐÌòòóó7/óó€€ð ð€...Ð P  Ðà0  à6.€Bearing€in€mind€that€the€State€party€and€the€Committee€are€obliged€to€assess€whether€thereÐ ð@  Ðare€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€petitioner€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjectedÐ à0  Ðto€torture€where€he/she€to€be€Ô_ÔepelledÔ_Ô,€returned€or€extradited,€the€risk€of€torture€must€beÐ Ð  Ðassessed€on€grounds€that€go€beyond€mere€theory€or€suspicion.€However,€the€risk€does€notÐ À Ðhave€to€meet€the€test€of€being€highly€probable.а(#(# ÐÌà0  à7.€€The€petitioner€must€establish€that€he/she€would€be€in€danger€of€being€tortured€and€that€theÐ à Ðgrounds€for€so€believing€are€substantial€in€the€way€described,€and€that€such€danger€isÐ €Ð Ðpersonal€and€present.€All€pertinent€information€may€be€introduced€by€either€party€to€bear€onÐ pÀ Ðthis€matter€ð ð.Ð`°(#(# ÐÌòò8/óó€€The€petitioner€gives€as€example€an€Ô_ÔNGOÔ_Ô€appeal€and€a€Report€of€the€Special€Representative€ofÐ @ Ðthe€United€Nations€Secretary€General€on€Human€Rights€Defenders€of€27€February€2002.Ð 0€ Ð