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ÐÌòòHaving€consideredóó€communication€No.€192/2001,€submitted€to€the€Committee€against€Torture€byÐ a ÐH.B.€H.,€Ô_ÔT.N.Ô_Ô€T.,€Ô_ÔH.J.Ô_Ô€H.,€H.O.€H.,€Ô_ÔH.R.Ô_Ô€H.€and€Ô_ÔH.G.Ô_Ô€H€under€article€22€of€the€Convention€againstÐ úJ ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€Ð ã 3 ÐÌòòHaving€taken€into€accountóó€all€the€information€made€available€to€it€by€the€complainants,€their€counselÐ µ"! Ðand€the€State€party,€Ð ž#î" ÐÌòòAdopts€the€following€decisionóó:Ð p%À $ ÐÌÌÓ6ÓÓ  Óòòò òDECISION€UNDER€ARTICLE€22,€PARAGRAPH€7,€OF€THE€CONVENTIONó óóóÐ +({#' ÐÓÓÓÓÌÌ1.1€The€complainants,€Mr.€H.B.€H.,€his€wife,€Mrs.€Ô_ÔT.N.Ô_Ô€T.,€and€their€children€Ô_ÔH.J.Ô_Ô€H.,€H.O.€H.,€Ô_ÔH.R.Ô_ÔÐ ç*7&* ÐH.€and€Ô_ÔH.G.Ô_Ô€H.€-€are€Syrian€nationals€of€Kurdish€origin.€They€are€currently€in€Switzerland,€whereÐ Ð+ '+ Ðthey€submitted€an€application€for€asylum.€The€application€was€rejected,€and€the€complainantsÐ ¹, (, Ðmaintain€that€their€return€to€Syria€would€constitute€a€violation€by€Switzerland€of€article€3€of€theÐ ¢-ò(- ÐConvention€against€Torture.€They€have€therefore€asked€the€Committee€to€deal€with€the€case€as€aÐ ° Ðmatter€of€urgency,€as€they€were€facing€imminent€expulsion€when€they€submitted€their€complaint.Ð ™é ÐThey€are€represented€by€counsel.€Ð ‚Ò ÐÌ1.2€In€accordance€with€article€22,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€transmitted€theÐ T¤ Ðcomplaint€to€the€State€party€on€20€November€2001.€At€the€same€time€the€Committee,€acting€inÐ =  Ðaccordance€with€rule€108,€paragraph€1,€of€its€rules€of€procedure,€requested€the€State€party€not€toÐ & v Ðexpel€the€complainants€to€Syria€while€their€complaint€was€under€consideration.€Ð  _ ÐÌòòThe€facts€as€presented€by€the€complainantsóó€Ð á 1  ÐÌ2.1€The€complainant€states€that€he€was€arrested€while€performing€his€compulsory€military€serviceÐ ³  Ðowing€to€his€refusal€to€join€the€ruling€Ô_ÔBaathÔ_Ô€party.€He€claims€to€have€been€imprisoned€in€Ô_ÔTadmurÔ_ÔÐ œì  Ðprison€from€1€November€1987€to€31€March€1988,€and€to€have€been€ill-treated.€Ð …Õ  ÐÌ2.2€He€also€states€that€he€has€been€a€committed€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party€sympathizer€since€1992,€and€that€heÐ W§  Ðbecame€a€member€of€the€party€in€1995.€In€this€connection€he€explains€that€he€has€distributedÐ @ Ðpamphlets€and€newspapers€and€taken€part€in€party€meetings.€He€asserts€that€on€5€November€1996Ð )y Ðthe€Syrian€political€security€service€accused€him€of€handing€out€prohibited€leaflets€and€arrested€him,Ð b Ðbefore€releasing€him€owing€to€lack€of€evidence€on€20€November€1996.€Ð ûK ÐÌ2.3€The€complainant€explains€that€on€18€July€1998€a€meeting€attended€by€some€45€to€50€people,Ð Í Ðincluding€senior€officials€of€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party,€was€held€at€his€home€in€Al€Ô_ÔQamishliÔ_Ô.€He€states€that€atÐ ¶ Ðthe€meeting€he€roundly€criticized€government€policy.€He€goes€on€to€say€that€he€then€hid€at€his€sister'sÐ Ÿï Ðhome,€on€the€advice€of€the€organizer€of€the€meeting,€as€he€feared€being€punished€by€the€authoritiesÐ ˆØ Ðfor€his€remarks.€He€claims€that€shortly€after€the€meeting€members€of€the€Syrian€security€service€wentÐ qÁ Ðto€his€home€to€look€for€him.€The€complainant€affirms€that€over€the€next€few€days€he€heard€that€theÐ Zª Ðsecurity€forces€had€reportedly€made€several€attempts€to€arrest€him.€He€states€that€he€first€hid€at€hisÐ C“ Ðsister's€home€in€Al€Ô_ÔQamishliÔ_Ô,€then€at€his€uncle's€home,€near€to€the€border€with€Turkey.€He€furtherÐ ,| Ðstates€that€there€he€met€up€with€his€family,€which€had€meanwhile€also€fled€Al€Ô_ÔQamishliÔ_Ô.€TheÐ e Ðcomplainants€indicate€that€they€left€Syria€together,€in€early€August€1998,€and€crossed€Turkey€enÐ þN Ðroute€to€Switzerland.€Ð ç 7 ÐÌ2.4€Mr.€H.€affirms€that,€after€he€had€fled,€he€remained€in€contact€with€organizations€of€party€exilesÐ ¹" ! Ðin€Europe.€He€also€states€that€he€took€part€in€a€demonstration€against€the€Syrian€regime€in€the€springÐ ¢#ò" Ðof€2000€in€Geneva.€Ð ‹$Û# ÐÌ2.5€The€complainants€applied€for€asylum€in€Switzerland€on€17€August€1998;€the€application€wasÐ ]&­!% Ðrejected€on€21€January€1999.€The€Swiss€Asylum€Appeal€Commission€(CRA),€ruling€on€the€appealÐ F'–"& Ðsubmitted€by€the€complainants€on€20€February€2001,€confirmed€the€initial€decision€to€reject€theÐ /(#' Ðapplication€on€11€April€2001.€In€a€letter€dated€23€April€2001€the€complainants€were€given€a€deadlineÐ )h$( Ðfor€departure€of€23€July€2001.€Ð *Q%) ÐÌ2.6€On€the€basis€of€a€new€document€intended€to€demonstrate€that€the€fear€of€persecution€cited€wasÐ Ó+#'+ Ðwell€founded€-€an€internal€memorandum€from€the€Al€Ô_ÔHasakahÔ_Ô€political€security€division,€dated€21Ð ¼, (, ÐAugust€1998,€addressed€to€the€Al€Ô_ÔQamishliÔ_Ô€political€security€division€for€the€arrest€of€Mr.€H.€forÐ ¥-õ(- Ðprohibited€political€propaganda€on€behalf€of€the€Kurdish€cause€-€the€complainant,€on€21€June€2001,Ð ° Ðsubmitted€to€the€CRA€an€application€for€review€of€the€decision€of€11€April€2001.€By€an€interlocutoryÐ ™é Ðdecision€of€28€June€2001€the€CRA€rejected€a€request€for€the€applications€for€review€to€haveÐ ‚Ò Ðsuspensive€effect€and€for€expulsion€to€be€deferred.€Ð k» ÐÌ2.7€In€a€letter€dated€27€August€2001€a€copy€of€a€judgement€of€20€May€1999€by€an€Al€Ô_ÔHasakahÔ_Ô€courtÐ =  Ðsentencing€Mr.€H.€to€three€years'€imprisonment€for€belonging€to€a€prohibited€organization€was€sentÐ & v Ðto€the€CRA.€The€Commission€did€not€consider€it€appropriate€to€overturn€its€interlocutory€decision.€Ð  _ ÐÌ2.8€On€31€August€2001€a€report€from€the€Swiss€section,€Berne,€of€Amnesty€International€was€sentÐ á 1  Ðto€the€CRA;€the€report€concluded€that€the€complainants€would€very€probably€be€imprisoned,Ð Ê   Ðinterrogated€under€torture€and€subjected€to€arbitrary€detention€if€they€returned€to€Syria.€The€CRAÐ ³  Ðdid€not€change€its€original€decision.€Ð œì  ÐÌ2.9€A€letter€dated€18€September€2001€providing€confirmation€of€the€risk€to€the€complainants€-€aÐ n¾  Ðletter€of€support€from€the€Western€Kurdistan€Association€-€was€sent€to€the€CRA.€In€a€letter€dated€19Ð W§  ÐSeptember€2001€the€CRA€reiterated€its€rejection€of€the€request€for€the€application€for€review€to€haveÐ @ Ðsuspensive€effect€and€for€expulsion€to€be€deferred.€Ð )y ÐÌ2.10€The€complainants€state€that€they€have€exhausted€domestic€remedies.€They€specify€that€althoughÐ ûK Ðthe€application€for€review€has€not€yet€been€the€subject€of€a€judgement€on€the€merits,€the€expulsionÐ ä4 Ðdecision€has€been€enforceable€since€23€July€2001.€Ð Í ÐÌòòThe€complaintóó€Ð Ÿï ÐÌ3.1€The€complainants€claim€that€there€is€a€real€risk€that€they€will€be€subjected€to€torture€if€they€areÐ qÁ Ðexpelled€to€Syria.€Ð Zª ÐÌ3.2€To€substantiate€this€fear,€they€recall€their€various€submissions€to€the€Swiss€authorities,€inÐ ,| Ðparticular€the€Amnesty€International€report,€which,€in€their€view,€has€not€been€taken€at€its€true€value,Ð e Ðand€the€copy€of€the€judgement€of€the€Syrian€court,€which€has€not€been€accepted€as€evidence€by€theÐ þN Ðauthorities.€They€stress€that,€having€left€their€country€three€years€earlier,€they€would€very€probably,Ð ç 7 Ðshould€they€return,€have€to€justify€their€stay€abroad.€They€claim€they€would€be€subjected€to€intensiveÐ Ð!   Ðinterrogation€by€the€authority€authorizing€departures€and€issuing€passports.€They€would€be€likelyÐ ¹" ! Ðto€be€arrested€by€one€of€the€Syrian€secret€services€as€they€are€Kurds€and€have€links€with€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_ÔÐ ¢#ò" Ðparty.€The€complainants€assert€that€this€cannot€have€escaped€the€notice€of€the€Syrian€authorities,Ð ‹$Û# Ðparticularly€since€they€took€part€in€a€demonstration€in€Geneva.€Accordingly,€the€complainantsÐ t%Ä $ Ðmaintain€that€there€is€every€reason€to€believe€that€they€would€be€interrogated€under€torture€regardingÐ ]&­!% Ðtheir€relationships€and€contacts€abroad€as€well€as€their€activities.€Ð F'–"& ÐÌòòState€party's€observations€on€admissibility€and€meritsóóÐ )h$( ÐÌ4.1€In€a€letter€dated€10€January€2001€the€State€party€indicated€that€it€was€not€contestingÐ ê*:&* Ðadmissibility.€The€State€party€noted€that€on€25€June€2001€the€complainants€had€submitted€anÐ Ó+#'+ Ðapplication€for€review€to€the€CRA,€and€that€in€a€decision€of€12€December€2001€it€had€been€rejected.€Ð ¼, (, ÐÐ ¥-õ(- Ð4.2€In€a€letter€dated€20€May€2002€the€State€party€formulated€its€observations€on€the€merits€of€theÐ ° Ðcomplaint.€Ð ™é ÐÌ4.3€With€regard€to€the€allegations€of€past€ill-treatment€and€torture€suffered€by€the€complainant,€theÐ k» ÐState€party€notes€that€the€sole€content€of€the€file€is€the€statement€by€Mr.€H.€claiming€that€he€wasÐ T¤ Ðill-treated€during€his€imprisonment€from€1€November€1987€to€31€March€1988€in€Ô_ÔTadmurÔ_Ô€prison.Ð =  ÐAccording€to€the€State€party,€despite€the€specific€questions€put€to€him€on€this€matter€in€hisÐ & v Ðexamination€by€the€Swiss€authorities€in€connection€with€his€request€for€asylum,€the€complainant€wasÐ  _ Ðunable€to€give€more€details.€To€the€question:€"How€were€you€tortured?",€he€replied:€"The€first€thingÐ ø H Ðthey€do€is€torture€you€with€a€tyre.€They€put€you€in€the€tyre€and€thrash€you.€I€was€given€only€a€pieceÐ á 1  Ðof€bread€and€some€cold€tea.€We€were€not€allowed€to€look€in€the€mirror€for€five€months.€Visits€wereÐ Ê   Ðnot€authorized.€My€family€did€not€know€where€I€was."€ò ò(1)ó ó€The€State€party€takes€the€view€that€theÐ ³  Ðcomplainant€is€speaking,€in€very€general€terms,€of€a€method€of€torture€which€is€apparently€used,€butÐ Ÿï  Ðwithout€explicitly€stating€that€he€himself€was€tortured€in€that€way.€Moreover,€he€gives€no€details€ofÐ ˆØ  Ðthe€precise€circumstances€of€the€ill-treatment€undergone,€for€example,€the€number€of€people€whoÐ qÁ  Ðsupposedly€ill-treated€him,€or€the€frequency,€place€and€purpose.€According€to€the€State€party,€thisÐ Zª  Ðlack€of€specificity€and€detail€casts€considerable€doubt€on€the€credibility€of€the€ill-treatment€sufferedÐ C“ Ðby€the€complainant€during€his€military€service.€Ð ,| ÐÌ4.4€However,€according€to€the€State€party,€had€the€complainant€actually€suffered€ill-treatment€in€theÐ þN Ðpast€it€would€not€be€relevant€to€a€determination€in€the€current€proceedings.€Since€the€ill-treatmentÐ ç7 Ðhad€allegedly€taken€place€more€than€10€years€before€the€complainant€left€Syria,€the€requirement€forÐ Ð  Ðthe€ill-treatment€to€have€been€in€the€recent€past€in€order€to€evidence€the€risk€of€being€subjected€toÐ ¹  Ðtorture€within€the€meaning€of€article€3€of€the€Convention€-€as€provided€for€in€the€Committee'sÐ ¢ò ÐGeneral€Comment€No.€1€-€has€clearly€not€been€met.€The€State€party€adds€that€the€same€is€true€aÐ ‹Û Ðfortiori€for€the€complainant's€wife,€since€she€has€never€alleged€ill-treatment€by€State€organs.€Ð tÄ ÐÌ4.5€With€regard€to€his€political€activities€in€Syria,€the€complainant€has€provided,€in€the€context€ofÐ F– Ðnational€asylum€proceedings,€certificates€dated€1€October€1998€and€12€March€1999€attesting€to€hisÐ / Ðmembership€in€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party.€However,€when€questioned€about€the€party€in€the€asylumÐ h Ðproceedings,€he€was,€somewhat€surprisingly,€able€to€give€only€very€general€information€on€the€aimsÐ  Q Ðof€the€party€of€which€he€claimed€to€be€a€member€in€a€position€of€responsibility.€Moreover,€he€hadÐ ê : Ðonly€very€approximate€knowledge€of€the€party€structure,€particularly€of€its€executive€bodies.€HeÐ Ó!#  Ðcited€the€secretary€of€the€party€as€its€supreme€organ,€whereas€information€from€reliable€sources€inÐ ¼" ! Ðpossession€of€the€Swiss€asylum€authorities€indicates€that€the€congress,€which€the€complainant€didÐ ¥#õ" Ðnot€even€refer€to,€is€the€supreme€decision-making€body€in€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party.€ò ò(2)ó ó€According€to€the€StateÐ Ž$Þ# Ðparty,€since€all€members€of€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party€had€to€serve€an€apprenticeship€before€their€formalÐ z%Ê $ Ðadmission€to€the€party,€the€information€supplied€by€the€complainant€regarding€the€purposes€andÐ c&³!% Ðstructure€of€the€party€were€far€too€vague€for€his€membership€claim€to€be€credible.€Thus€the€asylumÐ L'œ"& Ðauthorities€concluded€that€the€complainant€was€not€connected€with€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party€as€he€maintained.Ð 5(…#' ÐIn€the€view€of€the€State€party,€the€two€membership€certificates€were€irrelevant,€since€the€documentsÐ )n$( Ðhad€no€official€standing€and€had,€the€Swiss€authorities€considered,€based€on€their€experience€andÐ *W%) Ðknowledge,€been€prepared€so€readily€that€they€could€only€be€considered€as€documents€provided€asÐ ð*@&* Ðan€accommodation.€Ð Ù+)'+ ÐÌ4.6€As€evidence€of€his€close€links€with€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party€and€his€commitment€to€it,€the€complainantÐ «-û(- Ðmakes€allegations€which€are€not€seen€as€credible€by€the€State€party.€Firstly,€the€assertion€that€a€secretÐ ° Ðmeeting€of€some€50€people€took€place€at€the€complainant's€home€is€scarcely€believable.€The€StateÐ ™é Ðparty€observes€that€if€the€complainant€was€under€such€close€surveillance€by€the€Syrian€securityÐ ‚Ò Ðforces€as€he€claims,€he€would€not€have€been€able€to€have€held€such€a€big€meeting€at€his€homeÐ k» Ðwithout€attracting€the€attention€of€the€security€forces.€Neither,€in€the€view€of€the€State€party,€is€theÐ T¤ Ðcomplainant's€assertion€credible€that€after€the€meeting€he€had€hidden€for€a€week€at€his€sister's€homeÐ =  Ðin€the€same€town,€where€he€supposedly€learned€that€the€security€forces€were€conducting€an€intensiveÐ & v Ðsearch€for€him.€In€the€view€of€the€State€party€there€can€be€no€doubt€that€had€the€security€forcesÐ  _ Ðwished€to€arrest€the€complainant€they€would€not€have€looked€for€him€only€at€his€home€but€wouldÐ ø H Ðalso€have€searched€the€home€of€his€sister,€who€lived€in€the€same€locality.€Similarly,€the€State€partyÐ á 1  Ðasserts€that€it€is€difficult€to€imagine€how€the€complainant,€supposedly€being€actively€sought,€wouldÐ Ê   Ðhave€been€able€to€prepare€an€escape€for€himself€and€his€family€while€in€hiding€at€his€sister's€home.€Ð ³  ÐÌ4.7€During€the€CRA€review€proceedings,€the€complainant€produced€a€document€from€the€AlÐ …Õ  ÐÔ_ÔHasakahÔ_Ô€security€division€dated€21€August€1998€(see€paragraph€2.6).€He€stated€that€an€acquaintanceÐ n¾  Ðof€his€family,€living€in€Syria€and€with€good€relations€with€secret€service€Ô_ÔmilieuxÔ_Ô,€had€obtained€theÐ W§  Ðdocument€by€bribery.€Subsequently€the€document€was€supposedly€brought€through€Germany€byÐ @ Ðanother€acquaintance€as€a€Polaroid€photograph,€and€from€there€sent€to€Switzerland€by€post.Ð )y ÐAccording€to€the€State€party,€as€the€CRA€stated€in€its€decision€of€12€December€2001,€it€isÐ b Ðinconceivable€that€the€complainant€could€have€taken€possession€of€the€document,€which€was€notÐ ûK Ðaddressed€to€him€personally€and€which€he€himself€described€as€an€internal€memorandum.€For€theÐ ä4 ÐState€party,€the€complainant's€explanations€of€how€this€Syrian€security€service€document€supposedlyÐ Í Ðreached€him€in€Switzerland€are€extremely€vague€and€unconvincing.€In€fact,€none€of€the€individualsÐ ¶ Ðwho€supposedly€helped€to€obtain€the€document€is€mentioned€by€name.€Moreover,€the€links€betweenÐ Ÿï Ðthese€individuals€and€the€complainant€are€not€made€clear.€In€addition,€no€information€is€given€aboutÐ ˆØ Ðthe€bribery€referred€to,€and,€lastly,€there€is€no€explanation€of€why€the€document€had€to€transitÐ qÁ ÐGermany€before€reaching€the€complainant€in€Switzerland.€In€view€of€these€inconsistencies€the€StateÐ Zª Ðparty€takes€the€view€that€the€document€is€bogus.€Further,€in€his€communication€to€the€Committee,Ð C“ Ðthe€complainant€makes€no€claim€that€would€contradict€that€interpretation.€Lastly,€according€to€theÐ ,| ÐState€party,€it€is€to€say€the€least€strange€that€the€complainant€acquired€the€document,€which€datesÐ e Ðfrom€1998,€and€included€it€in€his€file€only€after€the€Federal€Office€for€Refugees€(Ô_ÔOFRÔ_Ô)€and€the€SwissÐ þN ÐAsylum€Appeal€Commission€(CRA)€had€rejected€his€asylum€application.€It€is€thus€highly€probableÐ ç 7 Ðthat€the€document€was€prepared€for€the€sole€purpose€of€constituting€new€evidence€that€would€allowÐ Ð!   Ðreview€proceedings€to€be€initiated.€Ð ¹" ! ÐÌ4.8€Also€in€the€CRA€review€proceedings,€the€complainant€produced€a€copy€of€a€judgement€of€20Ð ‹$Û# ÐMay€1999€by€an€Al€Ô_ÔHasakahÔ_Ô€court€sentencing€him€to€three€years'€imprisonment€for€belonging€to€aÐ t%Ä $ Ðprohibited€organization€(see€paragraph€2.7).€Contrary€to€the€complainant's€assertions€(see€paragraphÐ ]&­!% Ð3.2),€the€State€party€affirms€that€the€CRA,€in€its€review€decision€of€12€December€2001,€examinedÐ F'–"& Ðall€the€documents€submitted€by€Mr.€H.,€including€the€judgement€of€20€May€1999,€ò ò(3)ó ó€and€rightlyÐ /(#' Ðconsidered€that€the€latter€document€was€bogus,€for€the€following€reasons:€Ð )k$( ÐÌ(a)€Firstly,€its€content€does€not€correspond€to€the€statements€by€the€complainant€and€his€wife.€TheÐ í*=&* Ðcomplainants€never€cited€in€the€asylum€proceedings€the€imprisonment€from€1€to€16€June€1998Ð Ö+&'+ Ðmentioned€in€the€judgement.€In€the€examination€proceedings€on€21€December€1998€the€complainantÐ ¿,(, Ðreferred€only€to€imprisonment€during€his€military€service€in€1987€and€further€imprisonment€in€1996.Ð ¨-ø(- ÐTo€the€specific€question€of€whether€he€had€been€arrested€or€imprisoned€on€other€occasions,€theÐ ° Ðcomplainant€said€that€he€had€not.€ò ò(4)€ó óThe€complainant's€wife,€when€questioned,€also€neverÐ ™é Ðmentioned€any€imprisonment€of€her€husband€in€June€1998.€Rather,€she€stated€that€her€husband's€mostÐ …Õ Ðrecent€arrest€had€been€on€5€November€1996;€ò ò(5)ó ó€Ð n¾ ÐÌ(b)€Secondly,€the€sentence€of€three€years€referred€to€in€the€judgement€exceeds€the€penalty€underÐ C “ ÐSyrian€law€for€the€offence€for€which€the€complainant€was€allegedly€sentenced;€Ð , | ÐÌÔ_Ô(cÔ_Ô)€Further,€the€judgement€contradicts€the€security€service€internal€memorandum€dated€28€AugustÐ þ N Ð1998€produced€by€the€complainant.€It€is€scarcely€credible€that,€despite€being€suspected€of€havingÐ ç 7  Ðfounded€a€secret€organization,€the€complainant€was€detained€for€only€two€weeks€and€released€on€16Ð Ð  ÐJune€1998,€only€to€be€sought€by€the€security€service€for€the€same€offence€two€months€later.€GivenÐ ¹  Ðthe€seriousness€of€the€offence€of€founding€a€secret€organization,€the€release€referred€to€in€theÐ ¢ò  Ðjudgement€appears€more€than€doubtful.€It€is,€moreover,€surprising€that€the€complainant€wasÐ ‹Û  Ðsentenced€in€absentia€only€on€20€May€1999,€that€is€approximately€one€year€after€the€SyrianÐ tÄ  Ðauthorities€became€aware€of€his€subversive€activities;€Ð ]­  ÐÌ(d)€Lastly,€the€complainant€claims€that€an€official€at€the€court€which€sentenced€him€was€bribed€toÐ / Ðmake€a€copy€of€the€judgement.€The€copy€produced€by€the€complainant€is,€however,€of€such€poorÐ h Ðquality€that€it€could€hardly€be€a€copy€of€an€original€judgement,€but€at€most€a€copy€of€a€documentÐ Q Ðalready€copied€several€times€previously.€Ð ê: ÐÌ4.9€In€view€of€these€contradictions€and€inconsistencies,€the€State€party€asserts€that€the€copy€of€theÐ ¼  Ðjudgement€is€clearly€bogus.€Ð ¥õ ÐÌ4.10€Regarding€the€complainant's€political€activities€outside€Syria€(para.€2.4),€the€State€partyÐ wÇ Ðconsiders€that,€contrary€to€the€assertion€by€the€complainants,€the€photograph€of€the€complainants€atÐ `° Ða€demonstration€for€Kurdish€rights€in€front€of€the€Permanent€Mission€of€Syria€in€Geneva€provedÐ I™ Ðneither€that€they€took€part€in€the€demonstration€nor€that€they€engaged€in€any€political€activity€inÐ 2‚ ÐSwitzerland.€The€photograph€merely€shows€that€the€complainants€were€present€in€a€location€at€whichÐ k Ða€political€demonstration€took€place,€leaving€open€the€question€of€what€demonstration€it€was.€InÐ  T Ðparticular,€it€does€not€show€what€role€the€complainants€played€in€the€demonstration;€their€positionÐ í = Ðsome€way€from€individuals€holding€a€sign,€and€the€fact€that€they€were€surrounded€by€young€children,Ð Ö!&  Ðsuggest,€rather,€that€the€complainants€were€simply€spectators€at€the€demonstration.€In€any€event,€inÐ ¿"! Ðthe€view€of€the€State€party,€it€could€not€be€concluded€from€the€photograph€that€the€complainantsÐ ¨#ø" Ðwere€politically€active€in€Switzerland,€and€that€as€a€result€they€risked€punishment€if€returned€toÐ ‘$á# ÐSyria.€Ð z%Ê $ ÐÌ4.11€Regarding€the€Amnesty€International€report€of€3€July€2001€(see€paragraph€2.8),€the€State€partyÐ L'œ"& Ðobserves€that€at€the€beginning€of€the€report€that€organization€made€it€clear€that€the€report€made€noÐ 5(…#' Ðjudgement€as€to€the€risks€run€by€the€complainants€owing€to€their€activities€prior€to€their€flight,€sinceÐ )n$( Ðit€was€not€in€a€position€to€undertake€the€necessary€investigations.€According€to€AmnestyÐ *W%) ÐInternational,€the€risk€of€undergoing€ill-treatment€in€the€event€of€return€to€Syria€was€supposedlyÐ ð*@&* Ðbased€on€the€complainant's€links€with€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party€ò ò(6)ó ó€and€his€activities€in€Syria.€ò ò(7)ó ó€In€the€viewÐ Ù+)'+ Ðof€the€State€party€these€conclusions€are€questionable€since,€as€previously€stated,€the€close€links€withÐ Å,(, Ðthe€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party€and€the€danger€supposedly€incurred€by€the€complainants€owing€to€political€activityÐ ®-þ(- Ðabroad€ò ò(8)€ó óhave€not€been€established€in€any€way.€Regarding€measures€to€which€persons€returningÐ ° Ðto€Syria€after€a€stay€abroad€might€be€subjected,€namely€interrogations€by€various€State€bodies,€andÐ œì Ðbeatings€of€persons€under€interrogation,€ò ò(9)€ó óthe€State€party€emphasizes€that€these€facts€are€mentionedÐ …Õ Ðin€general€and€that€the€Amnesty€International€report€does€not€show€that€the€complainants€personallyÐ qÁ Ðran€a€particular€and€serious€risk€of€undergoing€ill-treatment€in€the€event€of€return€to€their€country.Ð Zª ÐWith€regard€to€the€situation€of€Kurds€in€Syria€and€the€arrests€to€which€they€are€subject,€ò ò(10)€ó óAmnestyÐ C “ ÐInternational€acknowledges€that€people€have€been€arrested€not€because€of€their€Kurdish€origin,€butÐ /  Ðbecause€of€their€political€activities.€Thus,€according€to€the€State€party,€the€complainants'€assertionÐ  h Ðthat€they€risked,€in€the€event€of€return€to€Syria,€being€ill-treated€or€tortured€because€of€their€KurdishÐ  Q Ðorigin€is€baseless.€Furthermore,€the€State€party€maintains€that€information€in€possession€of€the€SwissÐ ê :  ÐGovernment€indicates€that€a€lengthy€stay€abroad€in€connection€with€an€asylum€application€does€not,Ð Ó #  Ðin€and€of€itself,€lead€to€prosecution€on€political€grounds€or€to€particular€problems€on€returning€toÐ ¼  ÐSyria.€Thus,€referring€to€the€Committee's€jurisprudence,€ò ò(11)€ó óthe€State€party€concludes€that€theÐ ¥õ  Ðcondition€sine€qua€non€of€a€"personal"€risk€of€being€subjected€to€ill-treatment€is€not€present€in€thisÐ ‘á  Ðcase.€Ð zÊ  ÐÌ4.12€Regarding€the€particular€situation€of€Mrs.€T.,€the€State€party€observes€that€throughout€theÐ Lœ Ðproceedings€only€Mr.€H.€adduced€reasons€which€could€substantiate€-€were€they€well-founded€-€theÐ 5… Ðview€that€it€would€be€unacceptable€for€him€to€return€to€Syria.€In€contrast,€there€is€no€claim€that€Mrs.Ð n ÐT.€was€politically€active€in€Syria€or€elsewhere€or€that€she€was€arrested€or€ill-treated.€In€thisÐ W Ðconnection€the€State€party€recalls€that€article€3€of€the€Convention€does€not€guarantee,€in€theÐ ð@ ÐCommittee's€practice,€family€reunion€if€only€one€of€its€members€can€demonstrate€genuine€andÐ Ù) Ðserious€risk€of€being€subjected€to€ill-treatment.€Accordingly,€the€State€party€concludes€that€the€returnÐ Â Ðof€Mrs.€T.€would€in€no€way€violate€the€Convention.€Ð «û ÐÌ4.13€Regarding€the€credibility€of€the€information€provided€by€the€complainants,€the€State€partyÐ }Í Ðconsiders€that€the€many€contradictions€identified€in€the€complainant's€statements€(in€particularÐ f¶ Ðregarding€his€so-called€political€activities)€make€them€incredible.€The€State€party€particularly€wishesÐ OŸ Ðto€point€out€that€throughout€the€domestic€proceedings€the€complainants€have€produced€a€number€ofÐ 8ˆ Ðdocuments,€not€of€their€own€accord€at€the€beginning€of€the€proceedings,€but€only€as€a€result€ofÐ !q Ðnegative€decisions€taken€by€the€Swiss€authorities€against€them.€Thus,€the€complainants€produced€theÐ  Z Ðphotograph€showing€them€in€Geneva€in€the€spring€of€2000€only€after€having€received€the€CRAÐ ó C Ðdecision€of€12€April€2001.€The€same€is€true€of€the€Syrian€security€forces€document€of€21€AugustÐ Ü!,  Ð1998€and€the€Syrian€criminal€judgement€of€20€May€1999.€The€State€party€maintains€that€thisÐ Å"! Ðbehaviour€suggests€that€the€complainants€"produced"€certain€evidence€only€once€they€had€realizedÐ ®#þ" Ðthat€their€allegations€were€not€achieving€the€desired€effect€on€the€competent€national€authorities.€Ð —$ç# ÐÌòòComplainants'€comments€on€the€State€party's€observationsóó€Ð i&¹!% ÐÌ5.1€In€a€letter€dated€23€October€2002€the€complainants€stated€that€they€have€no€comments€in€additionÐ ;(‹#' Ðto€those€made€in€their€original€complaint.€Ð $)t$( ÐÌòòIssues€and€proceedings€before€the€Committeeóó€Ð ö*F&* ÐÌ6.1€Before€considering€any€of€the€allegations€in€a€communication,€the€Committee€against€TortureÐ È,(, Ðmust€decide€whether€or€not€the€communication€is€admissible€under€article€22€of€the€Convention.€ItÐ ±-)- Ðhas€ascertained,€as€it€is€required€to€do€under€article€22,€paragraph€5€(a),€of€the€Convention,€that€theÐ ° Ðsame€matter€has€not€been€and€is€not€being€examined€under€another€procedure€of€internationalÐ ™é Ðinvestigation€or€settlement.€It€also€notes€that€the€State€party€has€not€contested€admissibility.€ItÐ ‚Ò Ðtherefore€considers€that€the€complaint€is€admissible.€As€both€the€State€party€and€the€complainantsÐ k» Ðhave€provided€observations€on€the€merits€of€the€complaint,€the€Committee€proceeds€with€theÐ T¤ Ðconsideration€of€those€merits.€Ð =  ÐÌ6.2€The€issue€before€the€Committee€is€whether€the€return€of€the€complainants€to€Syria€would€violateÐ  _ Ðthe€obligation€of€the€State€party€under€article€3€of€the€Convention€not€to€expel€or€return€a€person€toÐ ø H Ða€State€where€there€are€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€he€or€she€would€be€in€danger€of€beingÐ á 1  Ðsubjected€to€torture.€Ð Ê   ÐÌ6.3€The€Committee€must€decide,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€1,€whether€there€are€substantialÐ œì  Ðgrounds€for€believing€that€the€complainants€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€torture€if€theyÐ …Õ  Ðwere€returned€to€Syria.€In€reaching€this€decision,€the€Committee€must€take€into€account€all€relevantÐ n¾  Ðconsiderations,€pursuant€to€article€3,€paragraph€2,€including€the€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€ofÐ W§  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 )y Ðin€the€country€to€which€he€or€she€would€return.€The€existence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€gross,Ð b Ðflagrant€or€mass€violations€of€human€rights€in€a€country€does€not€as€such€constitute€a€sufficientÐ ûK Ðground€for€determining€that€a€particular€person€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€tortureÐ ä4 Ðupon€his€or€her€return€to€the€country.€There€must€be€other€grounds€indicating€that€the€individualÐ Í Ðconcerned€would€be€personally€at€risk.€Similarly,€the€absence€of€a€consistent€pattern€of€grossÐ ¶ Ðviolations€of€human€rights€does€not€mean€that€a€person€might€not€be€subjected€to€torture€in€his€orÐ Ÿï Ðher€specific€circumstances.€Ð ˆØ ÐÌ6.4€The€Committee€recalls€its€General€Comment€No.€1€on€the€implementation€of€article€3,€whichÐ Zª Ðreads:€"Bearing€in€mind€that€the€State€party€and€the€Committee€are€obliged€to€assess€whether€thereÐ C“ Ðare€substantial€grounds€for€believing€that€the€author€would€be€in€danger€of€being€subjected€to€tortureÐ ,| Ðwere€he/she€to€be€expelled,€returned€or€extradited,€the€risk€of€torture€must€be€assessed€on€groundsÐ e Ðthat€go€beyond€mere€theory€or€suspicion.€However,€the€risk€does€not€have€to€meet€the€test€of€beingÐ þN Ðhighly€probable"€(A/53/44,€annex€IX,€para.€299).€Ð ç 7 ÐÌ6.5€In€this€case€the€Committee€notes€that€the€State€party€draws€attention€to€blatant€inconsistenciesÐ ¹" ! Ðand€contradictions€in€the€accounts€and€submissions€by€the€complainants,€casting€doubt€on€theÐ ¢#ò" Ðveracity€of€their€allegations.€It€also€takes€note€of€the€information€supplied€in€this€regard€by€theÐ ‹$Û# Ðcomplainants.€Ð t%Ä $ ÐÌ6.6€Regarding€the€allegations€of€ill-treatment€and€torture€in€Syria,€the€Committee€notes€that€only€Mr.Ð F'–"& ÐH.€states€that€he€suffered€such€treatment€while€imprisoned€in€Ô_ÔTadmurÔ_Ô€prison€between€1€NovemberÐ /(#' Ð1987€and€31€March€1988,€and€that€he€remained€in€the€country€undisturbed€until€his€departure€inÐ )h$( Ð1998.€Ð *Q%) ÐÌ6.7€Regarding€the€complainants'€political€activities,€the€Committee€notes,€firstly,€that€only€Mr.€H.Ð Ó+#'+ Ðreports€such€an€involvement€in€Syria.€Secondly,€in€view€of€the€complainants'€contradictions€andÐ ¼, (, Ðinconsistencies€and€the€serious€doubts€as€to€the€authenticity€of€the€internal€memorandum€from€theÐ ¥-õ(- ÐÑ!/^ Ñâ !âÑ—°Ñâ !âÑ  ÑSyrian€security€service€of€21€August€1998€and€of€the€Al€Ô_ÔHasakahÔ_Ô€court€judgement€of€20€May€1999,Ð ° Ðthe€Committee€considers€that€the€complainant€has€not€established,€either€in€his€statements€or€byÐ ™é Ðmeans€of€the€documents€produced,€his€active€membership€in€the€Ô_ÔYekitiÔ_Ô€party€and€opposition€to€theÐ ‚Ò ÐSyrian€authorities.€Lastly,€the€Committee€considers€that€the€complainants€have€not€shownÐ k» Ðinvolvement€in€opposition€political€activities€in€Switzerland.€Ð T¤ ÐÌ6.8€The€Committee€considers€that€the€above-mentioned€documents€were€produced€by€theÐ & v Ðcomplainants€only€in€response€to€decisions€by€the€Swiss€authorities€to€reject€their€application€forÐ  _ Ðasylum,€and€that€the€complainants€have€failed€to€offer€any€coherent€explanation€of€the€delay€inÐ ø H Ðmaking€submissions.€Ð á 1  ÐÌ6.9€Regarding€the€2001€Amnesty€International€report,€in€addition€to€the€contradictions€pointed€outÐ ³  Ðby€the€State€party€concerning€the€conclusions€drawn€regarding€the€complainants'€political€activitiesÐ œì  Ðin€Syria,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€information€relating€to€measures€that€might€affect€personsÐ …Õ  Ðreturning€to€Syria€after€a€long€stay€abroad€is€invoked€in€general€terms€without€being€linked€in€aÐ n¾  Ðrelevant€manner€to€the€specific€cases€of€the€complainants,€and€is€contradicted€by€the€informationÐ W§  Ðtransmitted€by€the€State€party,€in€submissions€which€the€complainants€have€not€subsequentlyÐ @ Ðcontested.€It€is€also€apparent€that€the€Kurdish€origin€of€the€complainants€would€not€in€itselfÐ )y Ðconstitute€a€reason€for€ill-treatment€or€torture€in€Syria.€Ð b ÐÌ6.10.€Lastly,€the€Committee€notes€that€the€complainant,€Mrs.€T.,€has€submitted€no€arguments€as€toÐ ä4 Ðthe€risk€of€her€being€subjected€to€ill-treatment€in€the€event€of€return€to€Syria.€Ð Í ÐÌ6.11€Consequently€the€Committee€considers€that€the€complainants€have€not€demonstrated€theÐ Ÿï Ðexistence€of€serious€grounds€suggesting€that€their€return€to€Syria€would€expose€them€to€real,€specificÐ ˆØ Ðand€personal€risk€of€torture.€Ð qÁ ÐÌ7.€The€Committee€against€Torture,€acting€under€article€22,€paragraph€7,€of€the€Convention€againstÐ C“ ÐTorture€and€Other€Cruel,€Inhuman€or€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€considers€that€returningÐ ,| Ðthe€complainants€to€Syria€would€not€constitute€a€breach€of€article€3€of€the€Convention.€Ð e ÐÌ____________________________€Ð ç 7 ÐÌ[Done€in€English,€French,€Russian€and€Spanish,€French€being€the€original€language.€Will€also€beÐ ¹" ! Ðissued€in€Arabic€and€Chinese€in€the€Committee's€annual€report€to€the€General€Assembly.]€Ð ¢#ò" ÐÌÌòòNotesóóÐ ]&­!% ÐÌ1.€Transcript€of€examination€of€complainant€by€canton€of€Zurich€Immigration€Police,€21€DecemberÐ /(#' Ð1998.€Ð )h$( ÐÌ2.€Ibid.€Ð ê*:&* ÐÌ3.€CRA€review€decision,€21€December€2001,€p.€7.€Ð ¼, (, ÐÐ ¥-õ(- Ð4.€Statements€by€complainant,€verbatim€record€of€examination€by€canton€of€Zurich€ImmigrationÐ ° ÐPolice,€21€December€1998,€p.€10.€Ð ™é ÐÌ5.€Statement€by€complainant,€verbatim€record€of€examination€at€Ô_ÔKreuzlingenÔ_Ô€Reception€Centre,€20Ð k» ÐAugust€1998,€p.€4.€Ð T¤ ÐÌ6.€Report,€chaps.€5.8,€5.10€and€5.11.€Ð & v ÐÌ7.€Report,€chap.€5,€"Situation€in€the€event€of€return€of€Mr.€H.€and€Mrs.€T.".€Ð ø H ÐÌ8.€Report,€chap.€5.10.€Ð Ê   ÐÌ9.€Report,€pp.€4-6.€Ð œì  ÐÌ10.€Report,€chap.€3.€Ð n¾  ÐÌ11.€òòÔ_ÔKioskiÔ_Ô€v.€Swedenóó,€complaint€No.€41/1996,€para.€9.4.€Ð @ ÐÓxÓ