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ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€author€of€the€communication,Ð  #ð! Ðhis€counsel€and€the€State€party,€Ð $à" ÐÌòòAdoptsóó€its€Views€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention.€Ð p&À!$ ÐÌÌ1.1€€The€author€of€the€communication€is€H.€O.,€an€Iranian€citizen,€born€on€18€March€1973,€currentlyÐ @)$' Ðresiding€in€Sweden€where€he€seeks€asylum.€He€claims€that€his€return€to€the€Islamic€Republic€of€IranÐ 0*€%( Ðafter€dismissal€of€his€refugee€claim€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€byÐ  +p&) ÐSweden.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.€Ð ,`'* ÐÌ1.2€€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmittedÐ ð-@), Ðcommunication€No.€178/2001€to€the€State€party€on€23€January€2001.€Pursuant€to€rule€108,€paragraphÐ ° Ð9,€of€the€Committee's€rules€of€procedure,€the€State€party€was€requested€not€to€expel€the€petitioner€toÐ  ð ÐIran€pending€the€consideration€of€his€case€by€the€Committee.€In€a€submission€dated€20€March€2001,Ð à Ðthe€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€the€Swedish€Migration€Board€decided,€on€24€JanuaryÐ €Ð Ð2001,€to€stay€the€enforcement€of€the€expulsion€order.€Ð pÀ ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€submittedóó€Ð P   ÐÌ2.1€€Counsel€submits€that€the€petitioner,€who€is€Kurdish€by€descent€and€comes€from€the€city€ofÐ 0 € ÐÔ_ÔSanandajÔ_Ô,€started€in€1990€to€take€part€in€political€activities€on€behalf€of€the€interests€of€the€KurdishÐ  p  Ðpeople€directed€against€the€Iranian€authorities.€These€activities€included€turning€the€photos€of€theÐ `  ÐAyatollah€the€wrong€side€around€and€encouraging€students€at€his€school€to€take€part€inÐ P  Ðdemonstrations.€In€February€1994€the€petitioner€allegedly€was€arrested€and€accused€of€distributingÐ ð@  Ðleaflets€at€his€school€and€writing€slogans€against€the€regime.€He€states€that€he€was€interrogated€forÐ à0  Ðtwo€days,€and€then€tortured€by€methods€such€as€beating€on€the€bottom€of€the€feet.€After€two€months'Ð Ð  Ðdetention,€the€petitioner€was€released.€He€then€discovered€that€he€had€been€expelled€from€his€school.Ð À ÐHe€has€lately€been€working€as€a€taxi€driver.€After€his€release,€the€petitioner€stopped€his€politicalÐ ° Ðactivities€for€fear€of€persecution.€Ð  ð ÐÌ2.2.€€On€22€February€1999,€demonstrations€officially€sanctioned€by€the€Government€were€held€inÐ €Ð ÐÔ_ÔSanandajÔ_Ô€to€protest€against€the€arrest€by€the€Government€of€Turkey€of€Kurdish€Workers€Party€leaderÐ pÀ ÐAbdullah€Ô_ÔO alanÔ_Ô€in€Nairobi.€The€petitioner€states€that€the€Government's€intention€was€to€turn€theÐ `° ÐKurdish€people€against€the€Governments€of€the€United€States€of€America€and€Israel.€Ð P  ÐÌ2.3€€The€petitioner€and€about€15€of€his€friends€planned€to€use€the€demonstrations€to€express€theirÐ 0€ Ðopinions€on€the€injustices€suffered€by€the€Kurdish€people€in€Iran.€They€prepared€posters€and€leafletsÐ  p Ðwith€anti„Iranian€and€pro„Kurdistan€slogans.€After€they€started€the€demonstrations,€thousands€ofÐ ` Ðpeople€joined€in€and€began€to€shout€anti„Government€slogans,€while€the€petitioner€and€his€friendsÐ P Ðhanded€out€posters€and€leaflets.€The€military€and€Revolutionary€Guards€opened€fire€at€theÐ ð@ Ðdemonstrators,€and€many€were€arrested.€The€petitioner's€friend,€Ô_ÔJamilÔ_Ô,€was€shot€and€the€petitionerÐ à0 Ðran€away.€He€considered€it€too€risky€to€return€to€his€family,€so€he€hid€in€a€friend's€house€for€13€days.Ð Ð  ÐWhile€hidden,€the€petitioner€was€informed€that€Revolutionary€Guards€had€arrested€his€father€andÐ À! Ðbrother.€The€petitioner€left€to€stay€with€a€relative€in€Ô_ÔOurmiyehÔ_Ô,€where€he€stayed€for€24€days.€AnotherÐ °"  Ðrelative€provided€him€with€a€passport€under€a€false€name,€and€an€exit€visa.€The€petitioner€travelledÐ  #ð! Ðto€Van€and€Istanbul€in€Turkey,€and€after€20€days€took€a€plane€to€Sweden.€Ð $à" ÐÌ2.4€€The€petitioner€entered€Sweden€on€21€April€1999€and€applied€for€asylum€the€following€day.Ð p&À!$ ÐUpon€arrival,€the€petitioner€carried€neither€passport€nor€identification€document.€The€SwedishÐ `'°"% ÐMigration€Board€held€an€initial€interview€with€the€petitioner€on€22€April€1999,€lasting€about€oneÐ P( #& Ðhour.€A€fuller€interview€took€place€on€20€May,€lasting€for€about€four€hours.€On€8€September€1999,Ð @)$' Ðthe€Swedish€Migration€Board€rejected€the€petitioner's€application€for€asylum.€The€Board€found€thatÐ 0*€%( Ðthe€petitioner's€statements€were€not€credible€and€that€the€petitioner€had€not€proved€that€he€riskedÐ  +p&) Ðpersecution€if€he€returned€to€Iran.€Ð ,`'* ÐÌ2.5€€The€petitioner€appealed€to€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board,€explaining€that€he€carried€no€identificationÐ ð-@), Ðdocuments€when€arriving€in€Sweden€because€he€had€been€forced€to€give€the€documents€to€theÐ ° Ðsmuggler€that€brought€him€there,€and€that€Iranian€authorities€twice€had€made€inquiries€about€him€atÐ  ð Ðhis€family's€house.€On€11€August€2000,€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board€rejected€his€application€forÐ à Ðasylum.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ2.6€€On€1€September€2000,€the€petitioner€lodged€a€new€application€for€asylum€and€a€residence€permitÐ ` ° Ðwith€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board.€The€petitioner€submitted€further€information,€stating€that€his€fatherÐ P   Ðand€brother€had€been€released€from€detention€and€that€the€Iranian€authorities€had€made€furtherÐ @  Ðinquiries€about€his€whereabouts.€He€referred€to€an€appeal€from€the€Iranian€Refugee€Council€ofÐ 0 € ÐStockholm€that€expressed€concerns€about€his€security€should€he€be€deported€to€Iran.€Finally,€heÐ  p  Ðinvoked€humanitarian€reasons€for€a€residence€permit€based€upon€a€statement€from€a€psychiatristÐ `  Ðaffirming€that€he€suffered€from€post„traumatic€stress€disorder,€acute€depression,€strong€memories€ofÐ P  Ðprevious€torture€and€was€suicidal.€Again,€on€5€October€2000,€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board€rejected€hisÐ ð@  Ðapplication.€Ð à0  ÐÌ2.7€€On€7€November€2000,€the€petitioner€lodged€a€new€application€with€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board,Ð À Ðand€submitted€information€that€was€intended€to€clarify€the€information€he€had€provided€at€the€earlierÐ ° Ðstages€of€his€case,€together€with€a€new€statement€from€a€psychiatrist€about€his€post„traumatic€stressÐ  ð Ðdisorder€and€the€serious€risk€of€suicide.€The€Aliens€Appeals€Board€rejected€the€application€on€12Ð à ÐDecember€2000.€Ð €Ð ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð `° ÐÌ3.€€Counsel€claims€that€the€petitioner€fears€that€if€returned€to€Iran,€he€will€be€arrested€for€hisÐ @ Ðparticipation€in€the€anti„Government€demonstrations€in€Ô_ÔSanandajÔ_Ô€in€February€1999.€He€alsoÐ 0€ Ðconsiders€it€plausible€that€the€Iranian€authorities€will€consider€his€case€in€the€context€of€his€previousÐ  p Ðactivities€in€the€early€1990s,€and€conclude€that€he€is€working€for€Kurdish€independence€and€againstÐ ` Ðthe€Iranian€authorities€which,€from€the€regime's€point€of€view,€is€a€serious€political€crime€and€treatedÐ P Ðaccordingly.€Counsel€adds€that€there€exists€a€consistent€pattern€of€human€rights€violations€by€IranianÐ ð@ Ðauthorities,€in€particular€against€political€and€religious€opponents,€and€there€is€overwhelming€reasonÐ à0 Ðto€believe€that€the€petitioner€will€be€subjected€to€torture€or€other€inhuman€treatments€if€returned€toÐ Ð  ÐIran.€Ð À! ÐÌòòState€party€observations€on€admissibilityóó€Ð  #ð! ÐÌ4.€€In€its€observations€of€29€March€2001,€the€State€party€does€not€contest€the€admissibility€of€theÐ €%Ð # Ðcommunication,€as€domestic€remedies€were€exhausted€with€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board's€decision€ofÐ p&À!$ Ð5€October€2000.€However,€the€State€party€points€out€that€the€petitioner,€under€chapter€2,€section€Ô_Ô5bÔ_Ô,Ð `'°"% Ðof€the€Aliens€Act,€may€lodge€a€new€request€for€a€resident€permit€with€the€Aliens€Appeals€Board€atÐ P( #& Ðany€time,€provided€that€new€circumstances€are€adduced€that€could€call€for€a€different€decision.€Ð @)$' ÐÌòòThe€petitioner's€comments€on€the€State€party's€observationsóó€Ð  +p&) ÐÌ5.€€In€a€letter€of€24€April€2001,€counsel€reiterates€the€points€made€in€his€initial€communication.€HeÐ -P(+ Ðfurther€notes€that€his€main€objection€to€the€migration€authorities'€action€in€the€case€is€their€incorrectÐ ð-@), Ðapplication€of€chapter€8,€sections€1€and€2,€of€the€Aliens€Act.€Ð ° ÐÌòòState€party's€observations€on€the€meritsóó€Ð à ÐÌ6.1€€In€its€observations€of€21€June€2001,€the€State€party€submits€information€on€the€merits€of€theÐ pÀ Ðcase.€Ð ` ° ÐÌ6.2€€The€State€party€refers€to€the€criteria€established€by€article€3€of€the€Convention€and€by€theÐ @  ÐCommittee:€first,€that€the€general€situation€of€human€rights€in€a€country€must€be€taken€into€account;Ð 0 € Ðand€second,€that€the€individual€concerned€must€personally€be€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture,Ð  p  Ðincluding€that€such€torture€must€be€a€necessary€and€foreseeable€consequence€of€the€return€of€theÐ `  Ðperson€to€his€or€her€country.Ð P  ÐÌ6.3€€With€regard€to€the€first€criterion,€the€State€party€notes€that€although€there€are€indications€thatÐ à0  ÐIranian€society€is€undergoing€changes€that€may€bring€about€improvements€in€the€human€rights€field,Ð Ð  Ðthe€Government€of€the€Islamic€Republic€is€still€reported€to€be€a€major€abuser€of€human€rights.€Ð À ÐÌ6.4€€In€respect€of€the€second€criterion,€the€State€party€contests€that€there€is€a€foreseeable,€real€andÐ  ð Ðpersonal€risk€that€the€petitioner€will€be€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Iran.€It€points€out€that€theÐ à Ðalleged€factual€inconsistencies€and€shortcomings€in€the€petitioner's€account€raise€serious€doubts€asÐ €Ð Ðto€his€credibility€and€the€accuracy€of€the€events€he€has€recounted.€The€State€party€refers€to€theÐ pÀ Ðrequirements€contained€in€the€UNHCR€Handbook€on€Procedures€and€Criteria€for€DeterminingÐ `° ÐRefugee€Status€(Geneva,€1992),€paragraph€205€of€which€states€that€the€applicant€should:€Ð P  ÐÌà8  à"(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€Tell€the€truth€and€assist€the€examiner€to€the€full€in€establishing€the€facts€of€hisÐ 0€ Ðcase;€Ð pÐ Ð  ÐÌà8  à(ii)€Make€an€effort€to€support€his€statements€by€any€available€evidence€and€give€aÐ P Ðsatisfactory€explanation€for€any€lack€of€evidence.€If€necessary€he€must€make€an€effortÐ ð@ Ðto€procure€additional€evidence."€Ðà0Ð Ð  ÐÌ6.5€€In€this€regard,€the€State€party€states€that€the€petitioner€has€provided€no€evidence€whatsoever€inÐ À! Ðsupport€of€his€claim€that€he,€his€father€and€brother€have€been€arrested,€nor€has€he€provided€aÐ °"  Ðcertificate€or€the€like€concerning€his€discontinued€schooling,€or€precise€information€regarding€whereÐ  #ð! Ðhe€was€being€detained€or€the€detention€and€release€of€his€brother€and€father.€Ð $à" ÐÌ6.6€€Furthermore,€the€State€party€notes€that€the€petitioner€stated€before€the€Swedish€Migration€BoardÐ p&À!$ Ðthat€if€he€were€returned€he€would€be€held€responsible€for€arranging€the€demonstration€in€Sanandaj.Ð `'°"% ÐHowever,€upon€learning€that€the€Swedish€authorities€considered€this€proposition€improbable,€heÐ P( #& Ðstated€that€he€participated,€but€did€not€arrange,€the€demonstration.€The€State€party€in€this€context€alsoÐ @)$' Ðrefers€to€the€petitioner's€statement€that€20€people€were€killed€during€the€Sanandaj€demonstration,Ð 0*€%( Ðwhereas€reports€stated€that€approximately€20€people€were€killed€in€demonstrations€at€that€time€overÐ  +p&) Ðthe€whole€country.€Ð ,`'* ÐÌ6.7€€Regarding€the€question€of€how€the€petitioner€thought€the€Iranian€authorities€knew€about€hisÐ ð-@), Ðparticipation€in€the€demonstration,€he€replied€before€the€Swedish€Migration€Board€that€he€thoughtÐ ° Ðhe€had€been€filmed€from€a€helicopter.€The€State€submits€that€it€is€unlikely€that€a€person€in€a€movingÐ  ð Ðcrowd€of€thousands€of€people€can€be€identified€in€this€way.€When€presented€with€this€statement,€theÐ à Ðpetitioner€added€other€ways€in€which€he€might€have€been€identified.€Ð €Ð ÐÌ6.8€€The€State€party€states€that€the€petitioner€gave€contradictory€information€about€where€his€fatherÐ ` ° Ðand€brother€were€detained,€saying€at€first€that€they€were€detained€in€Ourmia,€and€then€in€Sanandaj.Ð P   ÐHe€also€changed€his€account€in€regard€to€the€name€of€the€friend€that€was€shot€during€theÐ @  Ðdemonstrations€in€1999.€According€to€the€State€party,€the€author€has€also€been€inconsistent€aboutÐ 0 € Ðwhether€his€family€was€politically€active.€Before€the€Swedish€Migration€Board,€the€petitioner€statedÐ  p  Ðthat€apart€from€his€dead€brother,€the€family€had€not€been€politically€active,€whereas€in€hisÐ `  Ðcommunication€to€the€Committee€he€stated€that€the€family€had€been€politically€active€for€years.Ð P  ÐFurthermore,€the€State€party€refers€to€the€petitioner's€statements€before€the€Swedish€Migration€BoardÐ ð@  Ðthat€at€first€his€passport€was€destroyed€in€Turkey,€and€later€that€he€returned€his€false€passport€to€theÐ à0  Ðsmuggler€who€assisted€him€in€travelling€to€Sweden.€Ð Ð  ÐÌ6.9€€With€regard€to€the€diagnosis€of€post„traumatic€stress€disorder,€the€State€party€finds€that€it€is€ofÐ ° Ðimportance€to€the€overall€assessment€of€the€petitioner's€credibility.€It€notes€that€the€underlyingÐ  ð Ðmedical€documentation€seems€to€be€based€solely€on€statements€given€by€the€petitioner.€TheÐ à Ðpetitioner€allegedly€carries€no€physical€evidence€of€the€alleged€torture€and,€according€to€himself,Ð €Ð Ðthere€were€no€visible€injuries€or€need€for€medical€attention€at€the€time€of€the€alleged€beating.€InÐ pÀ Ðaddition,€the€petitioner's€mental€problems€were€mentioned€either€at€the€previous€hearings,€or€in€theÐ `° Ðapplication€to€the€Swedish€Migration€Board,€or€in€the€first€appeal€to€the€Appeals€Board.€Ð P  ÐÌ6.10€€On€the€basis€of€the€above,€the€State€party€doubts€the€petitioner's€account€on€several€points,€andÐ 0€ Ðtherefore€his€general€credibility.€With€reference€to€communication€No.€149/1999,€òòÔ_ÔA.S.Ô_Ô€v.€Swedenóó,Ð  p Ðthe€State€party€considers€that€the€petitioner€has€not€provided€sufficient€information€for€the€burdenÐ ` Ðof€proof€to€shift.€Ð P ÐÌ6.11€€Thus,€the€State€party€does€not€subscribe€to€the€petitioner's€presentation€of€the€facts.€Even€ifÐ à0 Ðdeemed€credible,€the€State€party€considers€that€the€petitioner€has€still€not€made€sufficiently€clear€thatÐ Ð  Ðhe€runs€the€risk€of€being€arrested€or€tortured€if€returned€to€Iran.€It€states€that€it€is€obvious€that€theÐ À! Ðpetitioner€was€never€in€any€leading€position€in€the€opposition€against€the€regime€and€not€even€aÐ °"  Ðmember€of€Komala,€and€he€has€not€claimed€to€have€been€registered€by€the€authorities€on€account€ofÐ  #ð! Ðhis€political€sympathies,€but€rather€stated€that€he€was€not€an€object€of€interest€to€the€authorities€untilÐ $à" Ðthe€demonstrations€in€February€1999.€Ð €%Ð # ÐÌ6.12€€The€State€party€concludes€that€the€petitioner€has€failed€to€substantiate€his€claim€that€he€wouldÐ `'°"% Ðrun€a€personal,€real€and€foreseeable€risk€of€being€tortured€if€returned€to€Iran,€and€that€an€expulsionÐ P( #& Ðorder€therefore€would€not€violate€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð @)$' ÐÌòòThe€petitioner's€comments€to€the€State€party's€observationsóó€Ð  +p&) ÐÌ7.1€€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€observation€that€the€petitioner€said€he€was€identified€in€theÐ -P(+ Ðdemonstration€by€a€helicopter,€counsel€points€out€that€the€petitioner€meant€to€say€that€he€could€haveÐ ð-@), Ðbeen€identified€by€helicopter€or€in€another€way.€Ð ° ÐÌ7.2€€Furthermore,€counsel€claims€that€the€petitioner€stated€that€only€his€brother€was€active€in€theÐ à ÐKurdish€political€organization.€When€the€petitioner€in€his€submission€to€the€Committee€stated€thatÐ €Ð Ðhis€family€had€been€politically€active€for€many€years,€he€meant€that€his€family€had€been€attributedÐ pÀ Ða€political€role€because€of€his€and€his€brother's€political€activities.€He€also€points€out€that€theÐ ` ° Ðinformation€received€about€his€father's€and€brother's€detention€came€from€his€mother,€through€aÐ P   Ðfriend,€since€the€petitioner€has€not€been€able€to€be€in€direct€contact€with€his€family.Ð @  ÐÌ7.3€€Counsel€claims€that€the€State€party€does€not€apply€the€same€criteria€when€considering€anÐ  p  Ðapplication€for€asylum€as€the€Committee.€He€contends€that€the€State€party€often€disregardsÐ `  Ðdocuments€provided€by€the€complainant,€such€as€medical€reports.€With€regard€to€the€State€party'sÐ P  Ðallegation€that€the€petitioner€has€not€fulfilled€his€obligation€to€provide€documented€information,Ð ð@  Ðcounsel€states€that€the€State€party€rarely€give€value€to€such€evidence,€and€he€finds€it€awkward€thatÐ à0  Ðthe€State€party€in€this€particular€case€bases€its€rejection€upon€the€lack€of€such€evidence.€Furthermore,Ð Ð  Ðit€has€been€impossible€to€trace€documentation€concerning€the€petitioner's€imprisonment€in€1994€orÐ À Ðthat€of€his€brother€and€father€in€February€1999.€Counsel€points€out€that€the€petitioner€left€Iran€in€aÐ ° Ðhurry€and€was€therefore€unable€to€collect€any€documents.€Ð  ð ÐÌ7.4€€Counsel€explains€that€the€failure€to€mention€the€petitioner's€mental€health€problems€at€an€earlierÐ €Ð Ðstage€is€explainable€by€the€fact€that€the€petitioner€did€not€know€what€information€to€provide.€It€isÐ pÀ Ðpointed€out€that€the€petitioner€has€only€a€basic€education.€Ð `° ÐÌ7.5€€Regarding€the€State€party's€allegation€that€the€petitioner€stated€that€he€was€one€of€the€organizersÐ @ Ðof€the€demonstrations€in€Sanandaj,€counsel€points€out€that€once€the€petitioner€realized€that€the€StateÐ 0€ Ðparty€had€misunderstood€the€level€of€his€participation€at€the€demonstrations,€he€providedÐ  p Ðclarifications.€Ð ` ÐÌ7.6€€In€general,€counsel€points€out€that€misunderstandings€often€occur€during€interviews€with€asylumÐ ð@ Ðapplicants,€due€to€the€fact€that€the€applicants€are€exhausted€from€long€journeys€and€traumaticÐ à0 Ðexperiences€and€are€terrified€by€authorities.€Ð Ð  ÐÌòòFurther€observations€by€the€State€partyóó€Ð °"  ÐÌ8.1€€The€State€party€submitted€further€observations€regarding€the€merits€of€the€case€on€2€OctoberÐ $à" Ð2001.€The€State€party€objects€to€counsel's€statement€that€it€would€be€futile€to€submit€documents€toÐ €%Ð # Ðthe€Swedish€authorities.€It€stresses€that€the€Swedish€migration€authorities€examine€as€thoroughly€asÐ p&À!$ Ðpossible€every€case€put€before€them,€including€any€piece€of€evidence€submitted.€Ð `'°"% ÐÌ8.2€€The€State€party€notes€that€the€petitioner€has€based€his€application€on€the€alleged€arrest€of€hisÐ @)$' Ðfather€and€brother,€although€he€has€not€been€able€to€contact€either€of€them,€nor€procure€documentsÐ 0*€%( Ðwith€regard€to€them.€The€State€party€considers€that€the€petitioner€should€at€least€be€able€to€explainÐ  +p&) Ðwhen€he€last€heard€from€his€family,€what€efforts€he€has€made€to€contact€them€and€why€he€has€notÐ ,`'* Ðsucceeded.€Furthermore,€the€State€party€refers€to€òòÔ_ÔK.M.Ô_Ô€v.€Switzerlandóó,€communication€No.€109/1998,Ð -P(+ Ðand€contends€that€there€is€nothing€to€suggest€that€members€of€the€petitioner's€family€have€Ô_ÔbeenÐ ð-@), Ðintimidated€since€his€brother€and€father€were€released€in€mid„1999.€Ð ° ÐÌ8.3€€With€regard€to€the€petitioner's€credibility,€the€State€party€explains€that€at€both€hearings€with€theÐ à ÐSwedish€Immigration€Board,€the€petitioner€stated€that€he€understood€the€interpreter.€At€the€secondÐ €Ð Ðhearing,€which€took€place€a€month€after€the€petitioner€arrived€in€Sweden,€the€notes€from€the€hearingÐ pÀ Ðwere€read€out€and€translated€for€the€petitioner€who€did€not€object€to€the€content.€When€asked€aboutÐ ` ° Ðhis€health€condition,€the€petitioner€answered€that€he€was€well.€The€State€party€stresses€that€theÐ P   Ðpetitioner€at€neither€of€the€two€meetings€with€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€mentioned€the€after„Ð @  Ðeffects€of€the€torture€he€allegedly€was€subject€to€in€1994.€Ð 0 € ÐÌòòFurther€comments€by€the€petitioneróó€Ð `  ÐÌ9.1€€On€25€October€2001,€counsel€submitted€further€comments€to€the€State€party's€observations€ofÐ ð@  Ð2€October€2001.€In€relation€to€the€State€party's€argument€that€the€author€should€have€providedÐ à0  Ðdocumentation€for€his€claim,€counsel€submits€that€it€is€risky€and€therefore€difficult€to€haveÐ Ð  Ðdocuments€sent€from€Iran.€Ð À ÐÌ9.2€€With€regard€to€the€State€party's€argument€that€nothing€in€the€case€suggests€that€the€petitioner'sÐ  ð Ðfamily€has€been€intimidated€after€mid„1999,€counsel€contends€that€Iranian€authorities€searched€forÐ à Ðthe€petitioner€after€his€participation€in€the€demonstrations€in€1999,€but€that€they€probably€stoppedÐ €Ð Ðsearching€because€they€realized€that€the€petitioner€had€left€Iran.€However,€the€fact€that€the€petitionerÐ pÀ Ðhas€not€received€information€about€harassment€of€his€family€after€1999€does€not€imply€that€theÐ `° Ðauthorities€are€not€still€interested€in€him.€Ð P  ÐÌ9.3€€Counsel€also€refers€to€a€2000€report€by€Ms.€Gitte€Stedt€at€the€Psychological€Department€of€theÐ 0€ ÐUniversity€of€Stockholm€which€criticizes€the€asylum€interview€procedure€followed€by€the€SwedishÐ  p ÐMigration€Board.€In€particular,€the€report€alleges€that€the€Board€officials€fail€to€establish€relationsÐ ` Ðof€trust€with€the€applicants€and,€since€questions€are€complex,€misunderstandings€ensue.€Ð P ÐÌòòDecision€concerning€admissibility€and€examination€of€the€meritsóó€Ð à0 ÐÌ10.€€Before€considering€any€claim€contained€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ À! Ðmust€decide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€hasÐ °"  Ðascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention,€that€the€sameÐ  #ð! Ðmatter€has€not€been,€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€international€investigation€orÐ $à" Ðsettlement€procedure.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€has€not€raised€any€objection€to€theÐ €%Ð # Ðadmissibility€of€the€communication€(cf.€State€party's€observations€dated€20€March€2001).€TheÐ p&À!$ ÐCommittee€therefore€finds€that€no€obstacle€to€the€admissibility€of€the€communication€exists€andÐ `'°"% Ðproceeds€with€the€examination€of€the€merits€of€the€communication.€Ð P( #& ÐÌ11.€€In€accordance€with€article€3,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€has€to€determineÐ 0*€%( Ðwhether€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€petitioner€would€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ  +p&) Ðsubjected€to€torture€if€he€returned€to€Iran.€In€order€to€do€this,€the€Committee€must,€in€accordance€withÐ ,`'* Ðarticle€3,€paragraph€2,€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€including€the€existence€of€aÐ -P(+ Ðconsistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€In€other€words,€the€existenceÐ ð-@), Ðof€a€consistent€pattern€of€violations€of€human€rights€within€the€meaning€of€article€3,€paragraph€2,Ð ° Ðlends€force€to€the€Committee's€belief€that€substantial€grounds€exist€within€the€meaning€of€theÐ  ð Ðparagraph.€Ð à ÐÌ12.€€However,€the€Committee€has€to€determine€whether€the€person€concerned€would€be€personallyÐ pÀ Ðat€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€the€country€to€which€he€would€be€expelled.€Consequently,€theÐ ` ° Ðexistence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€particularÐ P   Ðcountry€does€not€in€itself€constitute€a€sufficient€ground€for€concluding€that€a€particular€person€wouldÐ @  Ðbe€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€after€returning€to€his€country;€additional€grounds€must€existÐ 0 € Ðin€order€to€conclude€that€the€person€concerned€is€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€aÐ  p  Ðconsistent€pattern€of€flagrant€violations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€cannot€beÐ `  Ðconsidered€to€be€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€in€his€specific€circumstances.€Ð P  ÐÌ13.€€In€the€present€case,€therefore,€the€Committee€has€to€determine€whether€the€expulsion€of€theÐ à0  Ðpetitioner€to€Iran€would€have€the€foreseeable€consequence€of€exposing€him€to€a€real€and€personal€riskÐ Ð  Ðof€being€arrested€and€tortured.€Ð À ÐÌ14.€€The€State€party€has€pointed€to€inconsistencies€and€contradictions€in€the€petitioner's€statementsÐ  ð Ðwhich€in€its€opinion€cast€doubt€on€the€veracity€of€his€allegations.€Even€assuming,€however,€the€truthÐ à Ðof€the€petitioner's€statements€regarding€his€past€experience€of€detention€in€Iran,€the€CommitteeÐ €Ð Ðconsiders,€on€the€basis€of€the€information€provided,€that€the€political€activities€that€the€petitionerÐ pÀ Ðclaims€to€have€carried€out€prior€to€and€during€the€demonstrations€in€February€1999€are€not€of€suchÐ `° Ða€nature€as€to€lead€to€the€conclusion€that€he€risks€being€tortured€upon€his€return.€This€view€is€furtherÐ P  Ðsupported€by€the€fact€that€the€petitioner€was€not€the€object€of€interest€by€Iranian€authorities€after€heÐ @ Ðwas€released€from€detention€in€1994,€assuming€that€this€occurred,€and€until€the€demonstrations€inÐ 0€ ÐFebruary€1999.€Ð  p ÐÌ15.€€On€the€basis€of€the€above€considerations,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€petitioner€of€theÐ P Ðcommunication€has€not€substantiated€his€claim€that€he€would€be€subjected€to€torture€upon€return€toÐ ð@ Ðthe€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran.€Ð à0 ÐÌ16.€€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention€againstÐ À! ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€concludes€that€theÐ °"  Ðremoval€of€the€petitioner€to€Iran€would€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð  #ð! ÐÓIÓ