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ŠĢĢÓ=Óņ ņÓ  ÓViewsó óŠ $ą" ŠÓcÓÓÓĢ1.1€€€€€€The€complainant€is€Mr.€Chedli€Ben€Ahmed€Karoui,€a€Tunisian€citizen,€born€on€10€NovemberŠ p&Ą!$ Š1963,€currently€residing€in€Sweden,€where€he€seeks€asylum.€He€claims€that€his€return€to€Tunisia€afterŠ `'°"% Šdismissal€of€his€refugee€claim€would€constitute€a€violation€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€by€Sweden.Š P( #& ŠHe€is€represented€by€counsel.€Š @)$' ŠĢ1.2€€€€€€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmitted€theŠ  +p&) Šcomplaint€to€the€State€party€on€17€July€2001.€Pursuant€to€rule€108,€paragraph€9,€of€the€Committee'sŠ ,`'* Šrules€of€procedure,€the€State€party€was€requested€not€to€expel€the€complainant€to€Tunisia€while€hisŠ -P(+ Šcommunication€is€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.€In€a€submission€dated€12€September€2001,Š š-@), Šthe€State€party€informed€the€Committee€that€it€had€decided€to€defer€the€expulsion€order€against€him,Š ° Šand€consequently€to€stay€the€expulsion€order€against€Mr.€Karoui's€wife€and€daughter.€Š  š ŠĢņ ņThe€facts€as€submitted€ó óŠ €Š ŠĢ2.1€€€€€€Mr.€Karoui€grew€up€in€the€town€of€Jendouba,€north-west€of€the€capital€Tunis.€He€attendedŠ ` ° Šhigh€school,€where€he€became€interested€in€philosophical€and€political€issues,€especially€in€theŠ P   ŠIslamic€movement.€He€has€been€an€active€member€of€the€Islamic€Al-Nahdha€Movement€since€1981.Š @  ŠLater€on,€he€became€responsible€for€the€cultural€and€ideological€teaching€within€the€organization€inŠ 0 € Šhis€neighbourhood.Š  p  ŠĢ2.2€€€€€€Because€of€his€affiliation€with€Al-Nahdha,€he€was€expelled€from€school€in€1979.€His€familyŠ P  Šsupported€his€continued€studies€in€a€private€school.€In€1981,€he€was€detained€for€1€month€and€10Š š@  Šdays,€and€interrogated€about€his€political€activities,€and€more€specifically€about€the€demonstrationsŠ ą0  Šhe€had€participated€in.€However,€still€being€a€minor,€he€was€released€without€penalty.€This€was€theŠ Š  Šfirst€of€a€total€of€seven€arrests€between€1981€and€1996.€Š Ą ŠĢ2.3€€€€€€In€1983,€he€was€detained€for€one€month,€before€being€sentenced€to€six€months€in€prison€forŠ  š Šparticipating€in€demonstrations€against€the€Government.€He€was€also€expelled€from€school€becauseŠ ą Šof€the€allegations€made€against€him.€When€released,€he€was€unemployed€and€relied€upon€theŠ €Š Šfinancial€support€of€his€family.€In€1984,€he€was€arrested€and€sentenced€to€two€and€a€half€years€inŠ pĄ Šprison€for€affiliating€with€Al-Nahdha€and€participating€in€demonstrations.€In€1986,€he€was€againŠ `° Šarrested€and€detained€for€six€months€under€the€accusations€of€having€produced€and€distributedŠ P  Šleaflets€against€the€Government.€As€the€accusations€were€not€proved,€he€was€released€withoutŠ @ Šconviction.Š 0€ ŠĢ2.4€€€€€€Mr.€Karoui€tried€to€leave€for€Algeria€in€order€to€continue€his€studies,€but€his€passport€wasŠ ` Šconfiscated,€and€he€was€prohibited€from€leaving€the€country€as€well€as€taking€up€employment€inŠ P ŠTunisia.€In€spite€of€this€prohibition,€he€took€up€casual€work€for€shorter€periods.€In€November€1987,Š š@ Šwhen€the€President€Ben€Ali€was€elected,€the€tensions€in€Tunisia€were€eased€for€a€while€before€theŠ ą0 Šrepression€hardened€again.€Although€wanted€for€his€participation€in€demonstrations€against€theŠ Š  ŠUnited€States€of€America's€involvement€in€the€Gulf€War,€he€managed€to€travel€illegally€to€AlgeriaŠ Ą! Šin€the€end€of€1990,€in€order€to€continue€his€studies.€He€returned€to€Tunisia€once€in€June€1991,€whenŠ °"  Šhis€father€became€ill,€but€returned€to€Algeria€at€the€end€of€the€year€after€obtaining€a€TunisianŠ  #š! Špassport.€He€pursued€his€studies€until€the€end€of€1992.€Š $ą" ŠĢ2.5€€€€€€In€1992€he€was€expelled€to€Tunisia€together€with€11€other€Tunisians€affiliated€with€IslamicŠ p&Ą!$ Šmovements.€In€Tunisia,€they€were€kept€in€pre-trial€detention€for€two€and€a€half€months.€He€and€threeŠ `'°"% Šother€prisoners€managed€to€escape€while€awaiting€trial.€He€fled€to€Algeria€again,€where€he€appliedŠ P( #& Šfor€asylum€on€8€September€1992.€The€application€was€rejected€in€December€1992,€and€he€was€againŠ @)$' Šsent€to€Tunisia€in€1993.€Š 0*€%( ŠĢ2.6€€€€€€Upon€return€to€Tunisia,€he€was€arrested,€and€sentenced€to€one€and€a€half€years€in€prison€forŠ ,`'* Šbeing€a€member€of€an€illegal€organization,€and€for€having€participated€in€demonstrations€andŠ -P(+ Šagitation.€According€to€the€complainant,€he€was€maltreated€and€tortured€during€every€detention,€butŠ š-@), Ševen€more€so€during€the€last€one,€including€hitting€in€his€right€leg€with€a€baton€causing€a€fracture€andŠ ° Špermanent€pains,€pouring€of€water€over€him€while€he€was€handcuffed,€removing€hair€from€his€body,Š  š Šand€burning€his€body€with€cigarettes.€Š ą ŠĢ2.7€€€€€€When€he€married€an€Algerian€woman€in€December€1994,€he€planned€to€abandon€politicalŠ pĄ Šactivity.€He€worked€for€a€construction€company€from€1€March€1996€to€30€June€1999.€However,€inŠ ` ° Š1996,€he€was€again€accused€of€anti-governmental€activity,€after€refusing€to€participate€in€meetingsŠ P   Šcalled€by€the€local€leader€of€the€governmental€party.€He€was€arrested€and€sentenced€to€one€and€a€halfŠ @  Šyears€in€prison.€He€was€released€in€January€1997,€due€to€demonstrations€and€international€pressureŠ 0 € Što€ease€the€repression.€Subsequent€to€his€detention,€he€had€to€report€to€the€police€every€day.€FromŠ  p  Š1998,€the€reporting€frequency€was€changed€to€once€a€week€and€it€was€still€in€effect€when€he€leftŠ `  ŠTunisia.€Š P  ŠĢ2.8€€€€€€In€the€summer€of€1999,€he€was€informed€that€several€members€of€Al-Nahdha€whom€he€knewŠ ą0  Šhad€been€arrested;€therefore€he€decided€to€escape€the€country.€He€obtained€a€passport€through€contactŠ Š  Šand€bribes,€and€a€visa€for€Sweden€to€visit€his€cousin,€and€left€for€Sweden€on€7€August€1999.€HeŠ Ą Šarrived€in€Sweden€on€the€same€day,€and€destroyed€his€passport€immediately€after€arrival.€BeforeŠ ° Šapplying€for€asylum€on€24€August€1999,€he€awaited€documents€and€proof€from€Tunisia.€Whilst€inŠ  š ŠSweden€he€was€summoned€for€trial€in€Tunisia€for€15€September€1999,€and€he€was€sentenced€to€eightŠ ą Šyears€in€prison€in€absentia,€for€attempts€of€agitation,€disturbing€the€public€order€and€collecting€funds.Š €Š ŠThe€complainant€submitted€a€fax€copy€of€a€certificate€from€the€Jendouba€court€dated€18€FebruaryŠ pĄ Š2000,€confirming€these€alleged€facts.€The€police€came€to€search€his€house€in€Tunisia€several€times,Š `° Šand€once€detained€his€wife€for€three€days.€Subsequently,€his€wife€had€a€miscarriage.€After€he€left€forŠ P  ŠSweden,€his€wife€went€to€Algeria€since€she€was€under€the€constant€pressure€of€Tunisian€authorities,Š @ Šand€in€January€2000€his€wife€and€daughter€travelled€to€Sweden.Š 0€ ŠĢ2.9€€€€€€On€4€January€2000,€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board€rejected€his€application,€and€ordered€hisŠ ` Šexpulsion€to€Tunisia.€The€reasons€for€rejection€were€mainly€that€the€Board€doubted€his€credibility,Š P Šsince€he€had€destroyed€his€passport€when€arriving€in€Sweden,€and€he€had€waited€17€days€beforeŠ š@ Šapplying€for€asylum.€Furthermore,€the€Board€noted€that€in€spite€of€the€strict€controls€at€TunisianŠ ą0 Šairports,€he€was€able€to€leave€through€a€Tunisian€airport€in€his€own€name.€The€Board€thereforeŠ Š  Šconsidered€it€unlikely€that€he€was€wanted€by€Tunisian€authorities.€The€Board€also€noted€that€thereŠ Ą! Šwere€several€discrepancies€in€the€information€provided€by€him,€i.e.€about€the€length€of€time€he€wasŠ °"  Šemployed,€when€he€was€first€tortured,€and€the€length€of€the€sentence€he€was€convicted€to€in€1996.Š  #š! ŠIt€also€noted€that€meanwhile€he€informed€the€Swedish€Immigration€authorities€in€an€interview€on€25Š $ą" ŠAugust,€that€he€had€a€case€pending€before€a€Tunisian€court.Š €%Š # ŠĢ2.10€€€€€€Counsel€contests€the€Swedish€Immigration€Board's€reasons€for€rejection.€First,€counselŠ `'°"% Šcontends€that€Mr.€Karoui€destroyed€his€passport€to€protect€the€person€who€helped€him€leave€Tunisia,Š P( #& Šand€that€he€awaited€further€documentation€before€applying€for€asylum.€Secondly,€Mr.€Karoui€wasŠ @)$' Šable€to€leave€Tunisia€on€a€passport€in€his€own€name,€because€the€person€who€helped€him€arrangedŠ 0*€%( Šfor€the€passport€without€registering€his€name.€Counsel€also€contends€that€Mr.€Karoui€was€sentencedŠ  +p&) Što€one€and€a€half€years€in€prison€in€1993,€but€that€because€of€a€general€amnesty,€his€sentence€wasŠ ,`'* Šreduced€to€one€year€as€stated€in€the€certificate€from€the€Tunisian€Ministry€of€Foreign€Affairs.€WithŠ -P(+ Šregard€to€the€Immigration€authorities'€doubts€about€the€authenticity€of€the€notice€of€trial,€counselŠ š-@), Šstates€that€these€are€pre-printed€forms€containing€only€the€information€relevant€in€each€situation.€ThisŠ ° Šdoes€not€imply€that€a€form€lacking€some€information€is€unauthentic.€Š  š ŠĢ2.11€€€€€€Mr.€Ō_ŌKarouiŌ_Ō€appealed€the€decision€to€the€Refugee€Appeals€Board,€which€rejected€hisŠ €Š Šapplication€on€28€September€2000.€He€attached€a€declaration€by€Mr.€Rashid€Ghannouchi,€chairmanŠ pĄ Šof€Al-Nahdha€movement€and€the€Al-Nahdha€Party€of€Tunisia€of€18€July€2000,€to€his€appeal.€TheŠ ` ° Šchairman€stated€that€Mr.€Karoui€is€an€active€member€of€the€movement,€that€Algerian€authoritiesŠ P   Šdeported€him€in€1993€to€Tunisia,€where€he€was€subjected€to€arrest,€ill-treatment€and€interrogation,Š @  Šthat€he€has€been€sentenced€to€eight€years'€imprisonment€in€absentia€after€he€left€Tunisia€for€Sweden,Š 0 € Šthat€his€parents€have€been€subjected€to€numerous€interrogations€and€harassment,€that€his€wife€hasŠ  p  Šbeen€arrested,€harassed€and€tortured,€and€that€his€daughter€suffers€psychologically€because€of€this.€Š `  ŠĢ2.12€€€€€€The€Refugee€Appeals€Board€confirmed€the€reasons€for€rejection€given€by€the€SwedishŠ š@  ŠImmigration€Board,€and€added€that€the€political€activities€performed€by€the€complainant,€date€farŠ ą0  Šback€in€time,€and€that€the€political€organization€he€supported€was€dissolved€in€1992.€The€Board€alsoŠ Š  Šnoted€that€the€complainant's€political€activities€were€of€minor€character€and€at€a€low€level€within€theŠ Ą Šorganization.€Furthermore,€the€Board€disregarded€the€declarations€submitted€by€the€chairman€of€theŠ ° ŠAl-Nahdha€Movement€and€the€Al-Nahdha€Party,€since€it€had€been€informed€that€the€chairman€hadŠ  š Šsubmitted€similar€declarations€in€other€cases€where€he€had€no€knowledge€of€the€persons€heŠ ą Šsupported.€It€also€noted€that€while€Al-Nahdha€was€dissolved€in€1992,€the€chairman's€letter€datedŠ €Š Šfrom€year€2000.Š pĄ ŠĢ2.13€€€€€€A€further€application€for€a€review€by€the€Refugee€Appeals€Board€was€rejected€on€17€AprilŠ P  Š2001.€Although€Mr.€Karoui€attached€several€new€documents€to€his€latest€application,€includingŠ @ Šmedico-legal€reports,€support€letters€from€Amnesty€International€and€a€friend,€the€Refugee€BoardŠ 0€ Šdoubted€his€credibility,€for€the€reasons€given€in€its€previous€decision.€The€medico-legal€report€fromŠ  p Ša€specialist€in€legal€medicine€at€the€Center€of€Torture-€and€Trauma€Wounded,€Karolinska€Hospital,Š ` Šof€14€February€2001,€describes€a€scar€on€Mr.€Karoui's€finger,€allegedly€caused€by€someone€burningŠ P Šhim€with€a€cigarette,€a€1€by€1€cm€pigmented€area€on€his€right€shoulder€and€pains€when€touched€5€cmŠ š@ Šbelow€this€area,€allegedly€caused€by€beatings€with€batons,€and€a€painful,€defectively€healed€fractureŠ ą0 Šon€his€right€foot,€allegedly€caused€by€beating€with€a€baton.€The€medico-legal€evaluation€from€theŠ Š  Šsame€specialist€of€6€March€2001,€concluded€that€his€physical€symptoms€correspond€to€the€allegedŠ Ą! Štorture,€and€that€it€is€probable€that€he€was€subjected€to€torture.€He€also€submitted€a€PsychiatricŠ °"  Ševaluation€by€a€specialist€in€General€Psychiatry€at€the€Center€of€Torture-€and€Trauma€Wounded,Š  #š! ŠKarolinska€Hospital,€of€2€February€2001,€stating€that€he€has€objective€symptoms€of€PTSD,€and€thatŠ $ą" Šit€is€highly€probable€that€he€is€telling€the€truth€regarding€allegations€of€torture,€etc.Š €%Š # ŠĢ2.14€€€€€€The€attached€testimony€before€a€notarius€publicus€in€Germany,€of€a€friend€who€was€expelledŠ `'°"% Šfrom€Algeria€and€tortured€upon€arrival€in€Tunisia€with€him,€read€that€Mr.€Karoui€had€been€submittedŠ P( #& Što€torture.€A€letter€from€the€Association€des€Victimes€de€la€Torture€en€Tunisia€supports€theŠ @)$' Šcredibility€of€this€friend.€Finally,€he€submitted€a€letter€from€Amnesty€International,€Swedish€division,Š 0*€%( Šdated€30€March€2001,€referring€to€the€situation€in€Tunisia€where€members€of€Al-Nahdha€areŠ  +p&) Špersecuted€and€tortured,€even€if€they€are€only€sympathizing€with€Al-Nahdha.€They€refer€to€the€caseŠ ,`'* ŠA€v.€The€Ō_ŌNetherlands,ņņ1Ō_Ōóó€where€the€Committee€confirmed€these€findings.€Amnesty€International€alsoŠ -P(+ Šconfirms€that€it€has€received€information€about€how€persons€have€left€the€Tunisian€airports€with€theŠ š-@), Šhelp€of€persons€present€there,€and€that€this€method€of€escape€was€used€in€particular€during€theŠ ° Šmid-1990s.€They€point€out€that€Mr.€Karoui's€description€of€the€expulsion€from€Algeria€to€TunisiaŠ  š Šin€1993€corresponds€with€the€information€available€from€several€sources,€about€how€TunisianŠ ą Šasylum-seekers€in€Algeria€in€1993€were€returned€to€Tunisia€where€they€were€reportedly€arrested€andŠ €Š Štortured€by€Tunisian€authorities.€Through€the€UNHCR,€Amnesty€International€has€receivedŠ pĄ Šinformation€that€the€Algerian€authorities€rejected€Mr.€Karoui's€application€for€asylum€in€1992.€TheirŠ ` ° Šconclusion€is€that€Mr.€Karoui€could€risk€torture€upon€return€to€Tunisia.€Š P   ŠĢņ ņThe€complaint€ó óŠ 0 € ŠĢ3.€€€€€€Mr.€Karoui€submits€that,€if€returned€to€Tunisia,€he€will€be€arrested€and€tortured€for€hisŠ `  Šparticipation€in€the€former€Al-Nahdha€Party,€and€in€this€connection,€for€agitation,€disturbing€theŠ P  Špublic€order€and€collection€of€funds.€He€adds€that€there€exists€a€consistent€pattern€of€human€rightsŠ š@  Šviolations€by€Tunisian€authorities,€in€particular€against€political€opponents.€Mr.€Karoui's€removalŠ ą0  Što€Tunisia€would€therefore€entail€a€high€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€and€thus€entail€a€violationŠ Š  Šof€article€3€of€the€Convention.Š Ą ŠĢņ ņState€party€observations€on€admissibility€ó óŠ  š ŠĢ4.€€€€€€In€its€note€verbale€of€12€September€2001,€the€State€party€submits€that€it€does€not€wish€to€raiseŠ €Š Šobjections€as€far€as€the€question€of€admissibility€is€concerned.€Š pĄ ŠĢņ ņState€party€observations€on€the€merits€ó óŠ P  ŠĢ5.1€€€€€€In€its€note€verbale€of€11€January€2002,€the€State€party€submits€its€observations€on€the€meritsŠ 0€ Šof€the€case.€Š  p ŠĢ5.2€€€€€€The€State€party€reiterates€the€Committee's€jurisprudence€in€e.g.€S.M.R.€and€M.M.R.€Ō_Ōv.Ō_ŌŠ P ŠŌ_ŌSweden,ņņ2Ō_Ōóó€that€there€must€exist€additional€grounds€to€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,Š š@ Šflagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country,€indicating€that€the€individual€concernedŠ ą0 Šwould€be€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€torture€upon€return€to€that€country.Š Š  ŠĢ5.3€€€€€€Regarding€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€humanŠ °"  Šrights€in€a€country,€the€State€party€notes€that€although€Tunisia€has€accepted€the€Committee'sŠ  #š! Šcompetence€to€receive€and€examine€individual€complaints€under€article€22€of€the€Convention,€theŠ $ą" ŠCommittee€in€its€consideration€of€the€report€submitted€by€Tunisia,€in€1997,€expressed€concern€overŠ €%Š # Šthe€wide€gap€that€exists€between€law€and€practice€with€regard€to€the€protection€of€human€rights€inŠ p&Ą!$ Šthe€country,€and€in€particular€over€the€reported€widespread€practice€of€torture€and€other€cruel€andŠ `'°"% Šinhuman€treatment€perpetrated€by€police€and€security€forces.Š P( #& ŠĢ5.4€€€€€€In€respect€of€Mr.€Karoui's€allegation€that€he€is€personally€at€risk€of€being€subjected€to€tortureŠ 0*€%( Šif€returned€to€Tunisia,€the€State€party€draws€attention€to€the€fact€that€several€provisions€in€the€AliensŠ  +p&) ŠAct€reflect€the€same€principle€as€laid€down€in€the€Convention€article€3.€Thus€the€SwedishŠ ,`'* ŠImmigration€authorities€applies€the€same€kind€of€test€when€considering€the€application€for€asylumŠ -P(+ Šunder€the€Aliens€Act€as€the€Committee€applies€when€examining€a€complaint€under€the€Convention.€Š š-@), Ї5.5€€€€€€The€State€party€stresses€that€it€is€primarily€up€to€the€complainant€to€collect€and€presentŠ ° Ševidence€in€support€of€his€or€her€account,€cf.€S.L.€v.€Sweden.ņņ3óó€€While€reiterating€the€SwedishŠ  š ŠImmigration€authorities'€reasoning,€it€is€the€State€party's€opinion€that€Mr.€Karoui€has€not€been€ableŠ ą Što€substantiate€his€claim€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€toŠ €Š ŠTunisia.€The€reasons€for€rejection€of€his€application€for€asylum€cast€doubt€over€his€credibility,€as€doŠ pĄ Šthe€fact€that€when€spending€some€time€preparing€for€the€journey€to€Sweden,€he€did€not€provide€anyŠ ` ° Šexplanation€why€he€did€not€bring€with€him€from€Tunisia€at€least€some€documentation€that€heŠ P   Šintended€to€invoke€before€the€Swedish€Immigration€authorities.€Furthermore,€since€he€stated€that€hisŠ @  ŠTunisian€passport€was€confiscated€in€1986,€but€he€was€able€to€obtain€a€new€passport€before€goingŠ 0 € Što€Algeria€in€1991,€he€may€as€well€have€used€a€legal€passport€when€travelling€to€Sweden.€However,Š  p  Šby€destroying€his€passport,€he€has€prevented€the€Swedish€authorities€from€examining€documentationŠ `  Švital€to€the€assessment€of€his€right€to€protection.€Š P  ŠĢ5.6€€€€€€Upon€entering€Sweden,€Mr.€Karoui€was€carrying€a€visa€issued€by€the€Swedish€Embassy€inŠ ą0  ŠTunisia,€which€he€obtained€on€wrongful€grounds,€by€stating€that€since€1€March€1996€he€had€aŠ Š  Špermanent€senior€position€at€the€construction€company€where€he€was€employed.€He€submitted€aŠ Ą Šcertificate€allegedly€signed€by€his€employer€on€30€June€1999,€stating€that€he€was€still€employed€withŠ ° Šthe€company.€This€information€should,€according€to€the€State€party,€be€compared€with€hisŠ  š Šinformation€to€the€Immigration€Board€that€he€had€not€worked€at€all€since€he€had€spent€seven€yearsŠ ą Šin€prison,€and€later€that€he€had€a€job€as€an€assistant€for€a€private€company€since€1997.€Š €Š ŠĢ5.7€€€€€€The€State€party€also€explains€that€Mr.€Karoui€stated€during€the€proceedings€that€he€leftŠ `° ŠTunisia€because€some€people€he€knew€and€who€also€supported€Al-Nahdha,€had€been€arrested€inŠ P  ŠJune/July€1999,€and€he€feared€being€arrested€himself.€His€application€for€a€visa€to€Sweden€wasŠ @ Šgranted€on€2€July€1999,€yet€he€did€not€leave€until€7€August€1999.€No€explanation€has€been€providedŠ 0€ Šfor€this€delay,€and€although€he€was€still€under€duty€to€report€every€week€to€the€police,€he€was€notŠ  p Šarrested€during€this€period.Š ` ŠĢ5.8€€€€€€With€regard€to€the€certificate€of€conviction€in€absentia€of€18€February€2000,€the€State€partyŠ š@ Šnotes€that€the€sentence€is€considerably€longer€than€the€alleged€previous€sentences€the€complainantŠ ą0 Šallegedly€received,€yet€he€does€not€appear€to€have€appealed€against€it€or€provided€any€explanationŠ Š  Šfor€not€doing€so.€It€is€also€noted€that€the€certificate€of€the€conviction€contains€no€information€aboutŠ Ą! Šthe€date€of€the€alleged€crimes,€of€the€fact€that€Mr.€Karoui€was€convicted€in€absentia,€nor€of€theŠ °"  Šrelevant€provisions€of€applicable€law,€that€the€document€has€not€been€signed,€and€that€it€has€onlyŠ  #š! Šbeen€submitted€as€a€fax€copy.€These€shortcomings€give,€in€absence€of€a€convincing€explanation,Š $ą" Šreason€to€doubt€also€the€authenticity€of€this€document.€In€this€context,€the€State€party€also€points€outŠ €%Š # Šthat€Mr.€Karoui€has€not€furnished€a€copy€of€the€judgement€itself,€although€it€was€delivered€more€thanŠ p&Ą!$ Štwo€years€ago,€and€he€should€have€submitted€it,€considering€that€his€lawyer€and€brother€in€TunisiaŠ `'°"% Šhave€assisted€him€in€obtaining€other€documentation€from€the€Tunisian€courts€regarding€the€1996€andŠ P( #& Š1999€judgements.Š @)$' ŠĢ5.9€€€€€€With€respect€to€the€alleged€torture,€the€State€party€recalls€that€Mr.€Karoui€only€mentioned€thatŠ  +p&) Šhe€had€been€subjected€to€torture€on€other€occasions€than€in€1993,€upon€a€direct€question€from€hisŠ ,`'* Šcounsel,€and€that€the€medico-legal€reports€only€report€of€one€mark€on€his€finger€deriving€from€aŠ -P(+ Šburning€cigarette,€although€he€has€alleged€that€he€was€burned€all€over€his€body.€The€State€partyŠ š-@), Šreiterates€the€Committee's€jurisprudence,€that€past€torture€is€one€of€the€elements€to€be€taken€intoŠ ° Šaccount€when€examining€a€claim€under€article€3,€but€that€the€aim€of€the€examination€is€to€findŠ  š Šwhether€the€individual€risks€being€subjected€to€torture€now,€if€returned€to€his€home€country,€cf.€X,Š ą ŠY€and€Z€v.€Sweden.ņņ4óó€Š €Š ŠĢ5.10€€€€€€Finally,€with€regard€to€the€judgement€of€15€September€1999,€the€State€party€refers€to€theŠ ` ° ŠCommittee's€jurisprudence,€that€a€risk€of€being€detained€as€such€is€not€sufficient€to€trigger€theŠ P   Šprotection€of€article€3€of€the€Convention,€cf.€I.A.O.€v.€Sweden.ņņ5óó€€It€also€refers€to€the€case€A.S.€v.Š @  ŠŌ_ŌSweden,ņņ6óóŌ_Ō€and€concludes€that€Mr.€Karoui€has€failed€to€provide€sufficient€reliable€information€for€theŠ 0 € Šburden€of€proof€to€shift.€Š  p  ŠĢņ ņThe€complainant's€comments€on€the€State€party's€observations€ó óŠ P  ŠĢ6.1€€€€€€In€a€letter€of€15€March€2000,€Mr.€Karoui€contests€to€the€State€party's€contention€that€it€isŠ ą0  Šprimarily€upon€him€to€collect€and€present€evidence€in€support€of€his€or€her€account.€He€refers€to€theŠ Š  ŠCommittee's€jurisprudence€in€Kisoki€Ō_Ōv.Ō_Ō€Ō_ŌSwedenņņ7óóŌ_Ō€that€complete€accuracy€is€seldom€to€be€expectedŠ Ą Šfrom€victims€of€torture.€Š ° ŠĢ6.2€€€€€€Furthermore,€in€order€to€explain€the€36-day€delay€between€the€date€Mr.€Karoui€was€grantedŠ ą Ša€visa€for€Sweden,€and€his€actual€departure,€counsel€submits€that€he€needed€this€time€to€secretlyŠ €Š Šprepare€his€departure,€meanwhile€he€was€hiding€out€with€relatives€and€friends.Š pĄ ŠĢ6.3€€€€€With€regard€to€his€knowledge€of€the€coming€trial€before€the€summons€had€been€issued,€counselŠ P  Šexplains€this€by€his€experience€with€arrests€and€political€persecution.€He€allegedly€assumed€he€wouldŠ @ Šbe€arrested€since€one€of€the€members€of€his€workgroup€within€the€Movement€had€been€arrestedŠ 0€ Špreviously.€The€increased€sentence€of€eight€years€compared€to€his€previous€sentences€is€explainedŠ  p Šby€the€intensification€of€the€persecution€of€political€opponents€in€Tunisia.Š ` ŠĢņ ņDecision€concerning€admissibility€and€examination€of€the€merits€ó óŠ š@ ŠĢ7.€€€€€€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 Ą! Šascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention€that€the€sameŠ °"  Šmatter€has€not€been,€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€internationalŠ  #š! Šinvestigation€or€settlement.€The€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€has€not€objected€to€theŠ $ą" Šadmissibility€of€the€communication,€and€proceeds€therefore€to€the€examination€of€the€merits€of€theŠ €%Š # Šcase.Š p&Ą!$ Š€Ģ8.€€€€€€In€accordance€with€article€3,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€has€to€determineŠ P( #& Šwhether€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€toŠ @)$' Štorture€if€returned€to€Tunisia.€In€order€to€do€this,€the€Committee€must,€in€accordance€with€article€3,Š 0*€%( Šparagraph€2,€take€into€account€all€relevant€considerations,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistentŠ  +p&) Špattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€Furthermore,€the€Committee€has€toŠ ,`'* Šdetermine€whether€the€expulsion€of€Mr.€Ō_ŌKarouiŌ_Ō€to€Tunisia€would€have€the€foreseeable€consequenceŠ -P(+ Šof€exposing€him€to€a€real€and€personal€risk€of€being€arrested€and€tortured,€especially€in€view€of€anŠ š-@), Šin€absentia€judgement€against€him.€Š ° ŠĢ9.€€€€€€The€Committee€refers€to€its€consideration€of€the€report€submitted€by€Tunisia,€in€1997,€whereŠ ą Šit€expressed€concern€over€the€reported€widespread€practice€of€torture€and€other€cruel€and€inhumanŠ €Š Štreatment€perpetrated€by€police€and€security€forces.€Later€human€rights€reports€from€reliable€sourcesŠ pĄ Šsuggest€that€a€pattern€of€detention,€imprisonment,€torture€and€ill-treatment€of€persons€accused€ofŠ ` ° Špolitical€opposition€activities,€including€links€with€the€Al-Ō_ŌNahdhaŌ_Ō€Movement,€still€exist€in€Tunisia.€Š P   ŠĢ10.€€€€€€The€Committee€notes€the€State€party's€arguments€that€the€inconsistencies€in€the€informationŠ 0 € Šprovided€by€the€complainant€in€the€asylum€process€in€Sweden€cast€doubts€on€the€veracity€of€hisŠ  p  Šclaim.€However,€the€Committee€attaches€importance€to€the€explanations€for€these€inconsistenciesŠ `  Šgiven€by€the€complainant,€and€reiterates€its€jurisprudence€that€complete€accuracy€is€seldom€to€beŠ P  Šexpected€from€victims€of€torture.€The€Committee€finds€it€impossible€to€verify€the€authenticity€ofŠ š@  Šsome€of€the€documents€provided€by€the€complainant.€However,€in€view€of€the€substantive€reliableŠ ą0  Šdocumentation€he€has€provided,€including€medical€records,€a€support€letter€from€AmnestyŠ Š  ŠInternational,€Sweden,€and€an€attestation€from€the€Al-Ō_ŌNahdhaŌ_Ō€chairman,€the€complainant€should€beŠ Ą Šgiven€the€benefit€of€the€doubt,€since€he€has€provided€sufficient€reliable€information€for€the€burdenŠ ° Šof€proof€to€shift.€The€Committee€attaches€importance€to€the€medico-legal€reports€of€past€torture,€andŠ  š Šan€assessment€of€the€risk€that€the€complainant€may€be€subjected€to€torture€if€he€is€returned€to€TunisiaŠ ą Šand€detained,€pursuant€to€the€judgement€of€15€September€1999,€or€consequent€to€his€record€of€beingŠ €Š Ša€member€of€the€Al-Ō_ŌNahdhaŌ_Ō€and€a€political€opponent€to€the€existing€Government€in€Tunisia.Š pĄ ŠĢ11.€€€€€€In€the€circumstances,€the€Committee€considers€that€substantial€grounds€exist€for€believing€thatŠ P  Šthe€complainant€may€risk€being€subjected€to€torture€if€returned€to€Tunisia.€Š @ ŠĢ12.€€€€€€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€ConventionŠ  p Šagainst€Torture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€concludes€thatŠ ` Šthe€removal€of€Mr.€Ō_ŌKarouiŌ_Ō€to€Tunisia€would€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Š P ŠĢņ ņNotesó óŠ ą0 ŠĢņņ1óó€€Case€No.€91/1997€of€13€November€1998.Š Ą! ŠĢņņ2óó€€Case€No.€103/1998€of€5€May€1999,€para.€9.3.Š  #š! ŠĢņņ3óó€Case€No.€150/1999€of€11€May€2001,€para.€6.4.Š €%Š # ŠĢņņ4óó€€Case€No.€61/1996€of€6€May€1998,€para.€11.2.Š `'°"% ŠĢņņ5óó€€Case€No.€65/1997€of€6€May€1998,€para.€14.5.Š @)$' ŠĢņņ6óó€Case€No.€149/1999€of€24€November€2000,€para.€8.5.Š  +p&) ŠĢņņ7óó€Case€No.€41/1996€of€8€May€1996,€para.€9.3.Š -P(+ ŠŌ_ŌŌ_ŌÓœÓ