ÿWPC  ¤{ò‘Ÿ|¬ú~t^Øäïn„¬Ô0y#5&)ŸõÿW„·~Ž h™ib5ßW1*v4ÔäûW÷´é;Ê· V¬` Ñ”Ö~øÏJ{iRí¥Vóôm˜®‘ï¾òبl£N8ö˜¿Ooekë`}=^É» É¡kû¥ëøRûëi4°nÓ÷D÷ B£G¬;,½;a oÀ K˜UW.Äéý…uµ4¹÷·¡!%¹ê6gó>ˆÍË{VD"˜µÆŸ|~‚SU8ÜÓ[ {Ëóâ­`bÀR3pÉR¶&ovv£ Ý•²’â…=a- ±Gˆ›ÞÖ24œf)iåk€rÚ€C‡X¢Y劊1¡K‚…wýëÀeÃe}Ä÷ˆo=± œ¶V˜ ”꿜ñåÄ¡ ÓvjDc­øªÆ·"šA–€ü&{¶&yZV%àxµ´b(`wh—”ÈžšøŽÄVYøAßPUËäc  ¦tñäNñs•Ç»ý^«»ÈÝMÿ•_d» UïÉí_ÍÐ…ž| 4- ÚâgʳmÆhĬjûÞuÇt›+óþç]ÆY¤K µ{~Ýz¢.¿…MÑ÷²ç&Õ ex!³Œz3Çm+‡²ö, ¶.X·Ëça#ÁNUN %] 0:c 0î 0ë‹ 0èv 0å^ 0âC 0ß% 0Ü 0Ùà 0Ö¹ 0Ü 0Ùk 0ÖD 0Ó 0Ðí 0ͽ 0ÊŠ 0ÇT 0Ä 0Ûß 0غ 0Õ’ 0Òg 0Ï9 0Ì 0ÉÔ 0Æ 0Ãcccccc^ & w2 46 J Y m[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ Br ˜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 Ów ¿. Dˆ”-rtyBar4?¡3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ dÝ ƒûœ!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ_Ôò òCOMMITTEE€AGAINST€TORTUREÐ ° ÐÌòòH.€I.€A.€v€.€SwedenóóÐ à ÐÌCommunication€No.€216/2002Ð pÀ ÐÌ2€May€2003Ð P   ÐÌCAT/C/30/D/216/2002Ð 0 € ÐÌÌADMISSIBILITYó óÐ P  ÐÌÌòòòòSubmitted€byóó:€Ô_ÔH.I.A.Ô_Ô€(represented€by€counsel)Ð Ð  ÐÌòòAlleged€victimóó:€Ô_ÔH.I.A.Ô_ÔÐ ° ÐÌòòState€Partyóó:€SwedenÐ à ÐÌòòDate€of€complaintóó:€2€August€2002€(initial€submission)óóÐ pÀ ÐÌÌòòThe€Committee€against€Torture,óó€established€under€Article€17€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€andÐ @ ÐOther€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,Ð 0€ ÐÌòòMeeting€onóó€2€May€2003,Ð ` ÐÌòòAdopts€the€followingóó:Ð ð@ ÐÌÌÓ9Óò òÓ  ÓDECISION€ON€ADMISSIBILITYó óÐ À! ÐÓÜÓÓÓÌÌ1.1€The€complainant€is€Mr.€Ô_ÔH.I.A.Ô_Ô,€a€Jordanian€national,€born€on€14€December€1952,€currentlyÐ $à" Ðresiding€in€Sweden€and€awaiting€deportation€to€Jordan.€He€claims€that€his€forcible€return€to€JordanÐ €%Ð # Ðwould€constitute€a€violation€by€Sweden€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€OtherÐ p&À!$ ÐCruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment.€He€is€represented€by€counsel.Ð `'°"% ÐÌ1.2€On€29€August€2002,€the€Committee€forwarded€the€complaint€to€the€State€party€for€comments.Ð @)$' ÐÌòòò òFactsóóó óÐ  +p&) ÐÌ2.1€The€complainant€was€born€and€raised€in€Nablus€(West€Bank),€where€he€lived€until€1971.€ThatÐ -P(+ Ðyear€the€Palestinian€Liberation€Organisation€(PLO)€òò1/óó€€imprisoned€him€for€being€an€Israeli€spy€andÐ ð-@), Ðtraitor€for€a€total€of€nine€months€in€two€locations€in€Lebanon,€before€being€freed€by€an€(unspecified)Ð ° ÐCourt€36.€He€alleges€that€he€was€tortured€and€beaten€during€his€detention.€After€Ô_ÔtravelingÔ_Ô€to€Syria,Ð  ð Ðhe€was€again€imprisoned€by€the€PLO€for€the€same€reasons€(apparently€in€Syria),€and€released€by€anÐ à Ð(unspecified)€Court€34.Ð €Ð ÐÌ2.2€Following€his€release,€the€complainant€lived€in€the€United€Arab€Emirates€(UAE)€for€23€years.Ð ` ° ÐIn€1995,€he€allegedly€wanted€to€sell€land€in€Ô_ÔNetanyaÔ_Ô,€Israel,€that€he€had€inherited€from€his€mother,Ð P   Ðbut€he€was€unable€to€conclude€the€sale€as€Israeli€law€prescribed€that€the€transaction€would€have€toÐ @  Ðtake€place€in€either€Israel€or€Jordan,€allegedly€neither€countries€to€which€he€could€travel.€He€contendsÐ 0 € Ðthat€he€rejected€a€PLO€request€to€buy€the€land€at€a€low€price,€was€threatened€that€he€could€not€sellÐ  p  Ðit€elsewhere€and€Ô_ÔlabeledÔ_Ô€a€traitor.Ð `  ÐÌ2.3€Upon€return€to€the€UAE€after€an€attempt,€in€1996,€to€sell€the€land€in€Lithuania,€he€was€arrestedÐ ð@  Ðand€detained€for€three€months€for€rent€arrears€approximating€US$3,000.€He€contends€that€the€realÐ à0  Ðreason€for€his€arrest€was€ð ðpoliticalðð,€and€that€after€his€employer€learnt€of€his€efforts€to€sell€the€land,Ð Ð  Ðhis€contract€was€not€renewed.€The€complainant€contends€that€the€UAE€intelligence€service€thenÐ À Ðbecame€aware€that€the€PLO€considered€him€a€traitor,€and€his€residence€permit€was€withdrawn.Ð ° ÐÌ2.4€As€he€did€not€want€to€return€to€Jordan€for€fear€of€persecution,€the€complainant€left€the€UAE€inÐ à Ð1998€for€Lithuania.€He€married€a€Lithuanian€woman€and€was€granted€a€residence€permit.€On€6Ð €Ð ÐNovember€1999,€his€residence€permit€expired€and€was€not€prolonged€because€his€wife,€from€whomÐ pÀ Ðhe€had€separated,€was€opposed€to€the€renewal.€On€17€December€1999,€the€complainant€Ô_ÔtraveledÔ_Ô€toÐ `° ÐSweden€and€applied€for€asylum€on€20€December€1999.€Attempting€to€prolong€his€passport,€theÐ P  Ðcomplainantððs€(Jordanian)€lawyer€informed€him€that€the€Jordanian€security€services€requested€hisÐ @ Ðand€his€childrenððs€presence€in€the€country€in€order€to€do€so.€His€children€and€their€mother€reside€inÐ 0€ ÐDamascus,€Syria,€on€expired€passports,€and€they€allegedly€cannot€travel€to€Jordan€to€renew€them.Ð  p ÐÌ2.5€On€17€April€2001,€the€State€partyððs€Migration€Board€denied€the€complainantððs€application.€TheÐ P ÐAliens€Appeals€Board€rejected€his€appeal€on€24€April€2002.€A€further€application€(based€uponÐ ð@ Ðfactual€circumstances€that€had€not€previously€been€examined€by€the€authorities)€was€rejected€on€3Ð à0 ÐJune€2002.Ð Ð  ÐÌò òòòThe€complaintóóó óÐ °"  ÐÌ3.1€The€complainant€contends€that€due€to€his€continued€efforts€to€sell€land€and€his€refusal€to€co„Ð $à" Ðoperate€with€the€PLO,€he€is€regarded€as€disloyal€to€the€Palestinian€cause,€and€is€at€personal€risk€ofÐ €%Ð # Ðbeing€subjected€to€torture€in€Jordan.€He€also€fears€that,€as€there€is€allegedly€close€co„operationÐ p&À!$ Ðbetween€the€Jordanian€authorities€and€the€PLO,€he€may€possibly€be€handed€over€to€the€PLO.€He€citesÐ `'°"% Ðreports€of€non„governmental€organizations€in€support€of€the€proposition€that€both€Jordan€and€theÐ P( #& ÐPalestinian€Authority€are€engaged€in€gross,€flagrant€and€mass€violations€of€human€rights.€òò2/óóÐ @)$' ÐÌ3.2€The€complainant€states€that€the€same€matter€has€not€been€submitted€for€examination€underÐ  +p&) Ðanother€procedure€of€international€investigation€or€settlement.Ð ,`'* ÐòòÌÐ ð-@), Ðò òThe€State€partyððs€observations€on€admissibility€and€meritsóóó óÐ ° ÐÌ4.1€By€letter€of€18€November€2002,€the€State€party€contested€the€admissibility€and€merits€of€theÐ à Ðcomplaint,€pointing€out,€as€to€the€facts,€that€while€in€Lithuania,€the€complainant€applied€on€30Ð €Ð ÐNovember€1998€to€its€Embassy€in€Vilnius€for€a€3€week€visa€in€December€1998.€At€the€time,€he€heldÐ pÀ Ða€Jordanian€passport€valid€until€February€2000.€His€visa€application€was€rejected€on€3€DecemberÐ ` ° Ð1998,€but€he€entered€Sweden€on€17€December€1999€with€a€forged€Lithuanian€passport.Ð P   ÐÌ4.2€During€the€complainantððs€first€interview€with€the€Immigration€Board,€he€stated€that€he€had€goneÐ 0 € ÐLithuania€to€contact€Jewish€connections€with€a€view€to€selling€the€land.€There,€an€ð ðArab€mafiaðð€hadÐ  p  Ðallegedly€threatened€his€life€because€he€wanted€to€sell€land€to€Jews.€Family€members€in€Amman,Ð `  ÐJordan,€had€done€likewise.€He€also€came€to€Sweden€as€he€wanted€to€invest€in€Swedish€business€andÐ P  Ðmake€his€living€that€way.Ð ð@  ÐÌ4.3€At€subsequent€interviews,€he€stated€that€in€1975€the€Jordanian€authorities€refused€for€one€yearÐ Ð  Ðto€renew€his€passport.€After€family€intervention,€it€was€renewed€allegedly€only€on€condition€that€heÐ À Ðwould€not€return.€Thereafter,€it€was€renewed€every€fifth€year€several€times,€until€in€Lithuania,€theÐ ° Ðð ðArab€mafiaðð€took€his€passport€when€he€purchased€a€forged€Lithuanian€passport.€In€Sweden,€heÐ  ð Ðintended€to€contact€Jews€for€the€purpose€of€selling€his€land,€and€he€could€no€longer€obtain€aÐ à ÐJordanian€passport€as€his€efforts€to€sell€the€land€were€known.€He€had€never€been€politically€active.Ð €Ð ÐÌ4.4€The€Migration€Board,€in€rejecting€his€applications€for€asylum€and€a€residence€permit,€found€òòinterÐ `° Ðalia€óóthat€he€had€not€invoked€any€reason€apart€from€financial€reasons€to€sell€the€land€he€had€inherited.Ð P  ÐThe€fact€that€he€was€able€to€obtain€extensions€of€his€passport€while€allegedly€being€wanted€by€theÐ @ ÐJordanian€security€service€was€contradictory.€Moreover,€he€was€found€not€guilty€both€times€he€wasÐ 0€ Ðtried€in€the€early€1970s.€Accordingly,€he€had€not€substantiated€that€he€risked€persecution€as€aÐ  p Ðrefugee,€or€was€otherwise€in€need€of€protection.Ð ` ÐÌ4.5€The€Aliens€Appeals€Board,€in€turn,€found€that€the€complainant€had€not€justified€any€fear€of€beingÐ ð@ Ðin€an€exposed€position€in€his€own€country,€and€observed€that€his€arrests€by€the€PLO€had€taken€placeÐ à0 Ðsome€30€years€previously.€The€claim€that€his€land€dealings€implied€great€risks€in€Jordan€was€pureÐ Ð  Ðspeculation.€Moreover,€it€was€relevant€that€he€could€prolong€his€Jordanian€passport€on€severalÐ À! Ðoccasions€without€difficulty.€He€thus€had€not€substantiated€that€Jordanian€authorities€or€others€in€thatÐ °"  Ðcountry€were€interested€in€him€on€grounds€such€as€political€opinion.€The€Board€referred€to€theÐ  #ð! ÐCommitteeððs€jurisprudence€that€the€burden€of€proof€was€not€high€in€alleged€torture€cases,€completeÐ $à" Ðevidence€in€clear€support€of€such€a€claim€being€rare.€The€risk€of€torture€upon€return,€while€havingÐ €%Ð # Ðto€be€more€than€a€theoretical€possibility€or€mere€suspicion,€did€not€have€to€be€highly€probable.Ð p&À!$ ÐApplying€these€standards,€the€Board€found€that€there€did€not€exist€substantial€grounds€to€believe€heÐ `'°"% Ðwould€in€fact€face€torture€in€the€event€of€a€return€to€Jordan,€or€even€a€real€risk€thereof.€In€support€ofÐ P( #& Ðhis€subsequent€application,€the€complainant€supplied€a€declaration€from€his€lawyer€that€the€JordanianÐ @)$' Ðauthorities€had€refused€to€renew€his€passport€and€had€instead€referred€him€to€the€security€service.Ð 0*€%( ÐÌ4.6€As€to€the€admissibility€of€the€case,€the€State€party€argues€that€the€complaint€is€inadmissible€underÐ ,`'* Ðarticle€22,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€for€lacking€the€minimum€substantiation€required€of€anÐ -P(+ Ðalleged€breach€of€article€3.€The€State€party€refers,€for€this€conclusion,€to€the€CommitteeððsÐ ð-@), Ðjurisprudence€òò3/óó€€and€its€arguments€on€the€merits,€set€out€below.Ð ° ÐÌ4.7€As€to€the€merits,€the€State€party€outlines€the€salient€features€of€its€asylum€law,€as€applicable€toÐ à Ðthe€complainant.€Under€the€asylum€legislation,€an€alien€is€entitled€to€a€residence€permit€(and€a€banÐ €Ð Ðon€removal)€of€he€has€a€well„founded€fear€(Ô_ÔiÔ_Ô)€of€sentence€of€death€or€corporal€punishment€in€the€StateÐ pÀ Ðof€origin,€(ii)€of€being€subjected€to€torture€or€other€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€or€punishment,Ð ` ° Ðor€(iii)€of€persecution.€The€Migration€Board€(at€first€instance)€must€hold€an€oral€hearing€with€theÐ P   Ðasylum€seeker,€and€the€Aliens€Appeal€Board€does€so€if€this€would€benefit€the€proceedings€before€it.Ð @  ÐAfter€refusal,€a€new€application€advancing€factual€circumstances€not€previously€considered€may€beÐ 0 € Ðbrought,€in€which€the€same€grounds€as€above€provide€entitlement€to€a€residence€permit,€or€whereÐ  p  Ðenforcement€of€the€expulsion€would€be€contrary€to€requirements€of€humanity.Ð `  ÐÌ4.8€The€State€party€refers€to€the€Committeeððs€constant€jurisprudence€that€while€it€takes€into€accountÐ ð@  Ðall€relevant€considerations,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,€flagrant€or€massÐ à0  Ðviolations€in€the€country€in€question,€it€is€ultimately€the€individual€concerned€who€must€show€aÐ Ð  Ðòòpersonal€óórisk€of€being€subjected€to€torture.€Concerning€the€general€situation€in€Jordan,€the€State€partyÐ À Ðpoints€out€that,€while€not€ideal,€certain€improvements€have€taken€place€in€the€last€few€years.€In€2001,Ð ° Ðsteps€were€taken€to€strengthen€the€judiciaryððs€independence,€and€there€were€neither€reports€ofÐ  ð Ðarbitrary/unlawful€deprivation€of€life€by€State€agents€nor€of€politically„motivated€disappearances,Ð à Ðnor€of€political€prisoners.€The€law€provides€Ô_ÔprovidesÔ_Ô€prisoners€with€the€right€to€counsel€and€toÐ €Ð Ðhumane€treatment.€Most€prisons€meet€international€standards,€and,€with€some€exceptions,€the€Ô_ÔICRCÔ_ÔÐ pÀ Ðis€permitted€unrestricted€access€to€prisoners€and€facilities,€including€those€of€the€General€IntelligenceÐ `° ÐDirectorate.€In€1999,€the€government€also€formally€granted€Ô_ÔUNHCRÔ_Ô€access,€while€local€humanÐ P  Ðrights€monitors€are€allowed€to€visit€prisons.€The€Government€does€not€routinely€use€forced€exile.Ð @ ÐJordan€is€a€party€to€several€major€human€rights€instruments,€including,€since€13€November€1991,€theÐ 0€ ÐConvention€against€Torture.Ð  p ÐÌ4.9€As€to€whether€the€complainant€faces€a€personal€risk€of€torture,€the€State€party€points€out€that€theÐ P ÐSwedish€authorities€apply€the€test€contained€in€article€3€of€the€Convention,€as€well€as€theÐ ð@ ÐCommitteeððs€interpretation,€as€shown,€by€the€Appeals€Board€decision€in€particular.€The€nationalÐ à0 Ðauthority€conducting€the€interviews€is€in€a€particularly€good€position€to€assess€the€credibility€of€theÐ Ð  Ðcomplainantððs€statements.€€In€this€case,€the€Migration€Board€took€its€decision€after€three€interviewsÐ À! ÐÔ_ÔtotalingÔ_Ô€5.5€hours,€which,€taken€together€with€the€facts€and€documentation€of€the€case,€ensured€thatÐ °"  Ðit€had€a€solid€basis€for€making€its€assessment€regarding€the€complainantððs€need€for€protection.Ð  #ð! ÐÌ4.11€The€State€party€argues€that,€as€a€consequence,€great€weight€must€be€attached€to€the€decisionsÐ €%Ð # Ðof€its€authorities,€and€refers€the€Committee€to€their€decisions.€It€recalls€that€the€complainant€claimsÐ p&À!$ Ðthat€he€risks€torture€upon€expulsion€to€the€country€of€his€nationality€as€a€consequence€of€his€effortsÐ `'°"% Ðto€sell€land€allegedly€inherited€by€him,€and€his€refusal€to€co„operate€with€the€PLO.€He€claims€he€isÐ P( #& Ðconsidered€a€traitor€by€the€PLO,€and€that€the€PLO€has€an€excellent€relationship€with€the€JordanianÐ @)$' Ðauthorities€who€may€torture€him€or€possibly€hand€him€over€to€the€PLO.€In€response,€the€State€partyÐ 0*€%( Ðobserves€that€at€his€initial€interview,€the€complainant€only€referred€to€land€problems,€making€noÐ  +p&) Ðmention€of€having€been€ill„treated€by€the€PLO€as€an€alleged€spy.€Instead,€he€claimed€to€have€beenÐ ,`'* Ðthreatened€by€a€Lithuanian€ð ðArab€mafiaðð€and€his€own€family€in€Jordan.€From€the€informationÐ -P(+ Ðsubmitted€by€the€complainant€himself,€he€seems€to€have€come€to€Sweden€in€order€to€sell€the€land€inÐ ð-@), ÐIsrael€and€invest€the€proceeds€in€Sweden.€In€the€State€partyððs€view,€his€asylum€application€wasÐ ° Ðprimarily€motivated€by€economic€interests,€which€are€not€in€themselves€grounds€for€which€protectionÐ  ð Ðunder€the€Convention€is€afforded.Ð à ÐÌ4.12€As€to€whether€any€risk€of€torture€currently€exists,€the€complainantððs€alleged€torture€at€the€handsÐ pÀ Ðof€the€PLO€(an€issue€not€initially€raised)€occurred€some€30€years€ago,€a€fact€which€must€by€now€beÐ ` ° Ðdeemed€to€lack€relevance.€Nor€has€the€complainant€in€any€way€substantiated,€beyond€mereÐ P   Ðstatements,€that€he€was€arrested€and€tortured€by€the€PLO€in€Lebanon€and€Syria.€While€he€claimedÐ @  Ðhe€had€only€been€in€Jordan€once€for€a€short€period,€Jordan€remains€his€country€of€nationality€(withÐ 0 € Ða€large€Palestinian€population)€and€a€wish€not€to€reside€there€cannot€òòipso€facto€óóconfer€entitlement€toÐ  p  Ðprotection€in€another€country.Ð `  ÐÌ4.13€The€State€party€observes€that€the€complainant€also€stated€that€he€had€held€a€Jordanian€passportÐ ð@  Ðfor€20€consecutive€years€until€it€was€taken€from€him€by€an€ð ðArab€mafiaðð€in€return€for€the€forgedÐ à0  Ðpassport.€The€complainant€stated€that€it€was€renewed,€every€fifth€year,€even€though€JordanianÐ Ð  Ðintelligence€allegedly€knew€even€then€of€his€imprisonment€in€the€1970s€and€the€accusation€of€spyingÐ À Ðfor€Israel.€These€circumstances€relating€to€the€complainantððs€passport€undermine€the€credibility€ofÐ ° Ðhis€claims.Ð  ð ÐÌ4.14€The€State€party€notes€that€at€no€time€(including€in€the€complaint)€has€the€complainant€claimedÐ €Ð Ðthat€he€had€been€politically€active€or€that€he€had€worked€in€any€way€against€Jordan€or€the€PalestinianÐ pÀ Ðcause.€Nor€has€he€submitted€to€the€Committee€any€information€substantiating€his€claim€that€he€willÐ `° Ðbe€ð ðpersecuted€and€tortured€by€the€Jordanians€and€possibly€handed€over€to€the€PLOðð.€The€State€partyÐ P  Ðthus€maintains€that€the€complainantððs€assertions€about€the€consequences€of€his€efforts€to€sell€the€landÐ @ Ðallegedly€inherited€by€him€amount€to€no€more€than€mere€theory€and€suspicion..Ð 0€ ÐÌ4.15€Taking€these€circumstances€in€their€totality,€the€State€party€submits€that€the€complainant€hasÐ ` Ðfailed€to€show€that€there€is€a€foreseeable,€real€and€personal€risk€of€torture€in€the€event€of€his€returnÐ P Ðto€Jordan,€and€accordingly€there€is€no€issue€arising€under€article€3€of€the€Convention.Ð ð@ ÐÌòòò òComplainantððs€comments€on€the€State€partyððs€submissionsóóó óÐ Ð  ÐÌ5.1€By€letter€of€30€December€2002,€the€complainant€responds€to€the€State€partyððs€submissions,Ð °"  Ðcontending€that€the€reason€he€was€arrested€in€Lebanon€in€1971€was€that€the€Israeli€intelligenceÐ  #ð! Ðservice€recruited€him€prior€to€his€departure€to€study€in€Lebanon.€He€alleges€he€was€arrested€after€aÐ $à" Ðweek€and€identified€by€a€Palestinian€official,€related€to€his€motherððs€first€husband,€who€had€been€inÐ €%Ð # ÐNablus€prison€when€the€complainant€was€in€contact€with€Israeli€intelligence€authorities€located€inÐ p&À!$ Ðthe€same€building.Ð `'°"% ÐÌ5.2€From€1995€until€1997,€transactions€concerning€land€in€Israel€could€be,€and€were,€undertaken€inÐ @)$' ÐJordan.€The€complainant€argues€that€if€he€is€returned€to€Jordan,€he€would€be€accused€of€seekingÐ 0*€%( Ðasylum€in€Sweden,€and€selling€land€in€Israel.€The€spying€issue€could€also€be€re„opened,€which€couldÐ  +p&) Ðresult€in€a€long€prison€sentence€during€which€he€could€be€mistreated€by€other€inmates.€If€he€isÐ ,`'* Ðreleased€upon€his€return,€he€could€be€pursued€by€Palestinian€organizations€in€Jordan.€He€argues€thatÐ -P(+ ÐYasser€Arafat€himself€could€reopen€his€case.Ð ð-@), Ї5.3€Finally,€he€alleges€that€the€State€party€wishes€to€deport€him€as€a€matter€of€convenience,€as€hisÐ ° Ðis€a€political€case€connected€with€both€Israel€and€the€Palestinian€Authority.Ð  ð ÐÌò òòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeó óóóÐ €Ð ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€claims€contained€in€a€complaint,€the€Committee€against€Torture€mustÐ ` ° Ðdecide€whether€or€not€it€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€hasÐ P   Ðascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention,€that€the€sameÐ @  Ðmatter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€international€investigationÐ 0 € Ðor€settlement.€The€Committee€further€notes€the€State€partyððs€acknowledgment€that€domesticÐ  p  Ðremedies€have€been€exhausted.Ð `  ÐÌ6.2€As€to€the€State€partyððs€argument€that€the€complaint€is€inadmissible€for€incompatibility€with€theÐ ð@  Ðprovisions€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€part€of€the€complaint€concerning€theÐ à0  Ðalleged€possibility€of€being€handed€over€to€Palestinian€authorities€is€mere€speculation€on€theÐ Ð  Ðcomplainantððs€part.€The€Committee€observes€that€the€possibility€of€any€such€handover,€let€alone€anyÐ À Ðconsequences€that€might€follow,€have€not€been€substantiated€in€any€form.€Similarly,€theÐ ° Ðcomplainantððs€claims€with€respect€to€Jordan€plainly€fail€to€rise€to€the€basic€level€of€substantiationÐ  ð Ðrequired€for€purposes€of€admissibility.€As€a€result,€the€Committee€considers,€in€accordance€withÐ à Ðarticle€22€of€the€Convention€and€Rule€107(b)€of€its€revised€Rules€of€Procedure,€that€the€complaintÐ €Ð Ðis€manifestly€unfounded,€and€thus€inadmissible.Ð pÀ ÐÌ7.€Accordingly,€the€Committee€decides:Ð P  ÐÌa)€that€the€complaint€is€inadmissible;Ð 0€ ÐÌb)€that€this€decision€shall€be€communicated€to€the€State€party€and€to€the€complainant.Ð ` ÐÌÌ[Adopted€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€the€English€text€being€the€original€version.Ð à0 ÐSubsequently€to€be€issued€also€in€Arabic€and€Chinese€as€part€of€the€Committee's€annual€report€to€theÐ Ð  ÐGeneral€Assembly.]Ð À! Ðò òÌÌó óòòNotesóóÐ $à" ÐÌòò1/óó€€The€complainant€refers€to€the€ð ðPLOðð€(except€for€one€reference€to€the€Palestinian€Authority)Ð p&À!$ Ðthroughout€the€complaint.Ð `'°"% ÐÌÓ)Óòò2/óó€€Extract€from€(apparently)€Human€Rights€Watch€ð ðTorture€and€physical€abuse€by€the€securityÐ @)$' Ðforcesðð€(unspecified/undated€Ô_ÔweblinkÔ_Ô);€Amnesty€International€ð ðHuman€rights€in€the€Middle€East:Ð 0*€%( ÐReports:€Jordanðð€(Ô_Ôwww.amnestyÔ_Ô„volunteer.org/usa/mideast/reports/jordan.html;€according€to€theÐ  +p&) ÐÔ_ÔwebpageÔ_Ô,€it€was€last€updated€on€4€January€1998);€Amnesty€International€ð ðJordan:€An€absence€ofÐ ,`'* ÐsafeguardsððÐ -P(+ Ð(Ô_Ôweb.amnesty.orgÔ_Ô/802568F7005C4453/0/DE839FE5F4399ED18025690000692C42?Open;€1Ð ð-@), ÐNovember€1998).Ð ° ÐÓÓÌòò3/óó€€See,€for€example,€òòY€v€Switzerlandóó€Case€No€18/1994,€Views€adopted€on€17€November€1994.Ð à ÐÓzZÓ