CAT/C/35/D/238/2003
Page 3
ANNEX
DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE UNDER ARTICLE
22 OF THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE AND OTHER CRUEL,
INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT
Thirty-fifth session
Concerning
Communication No. 238/2003
Submitted by:
Mr. Z. T. (No.2) (represented by counsel, Mr.
Thom Arne Hellerslia)
Alleged victim:
The complainant
State Party:
Norway
Date of complaint:
31 July 2001
The Committee against Torture, established under article 17 of the
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment,
Meeting on 14 November 2005,
Having concluded its consideration of complaint No. 238/2003, submitted to
the Committee against Torture by Mr. Z. G. T. under article 22 of the Convention
against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
Having taken into account all information made available to it by the author of
the complaint, his counsel and the State party,
Adopts the following decision:
1.1
The author of the communication is Z. T., an Ethiopian national born on 16
July 1962 and currently residing in Norway, where his request for asylum has been
denied and he faces removal. He claims that he would risk imprisonment and torture
upon return to Ethiopia and that his forced return would therefore constitute a
violation by Norway of article 3 of the Convention. He is represented by counsel.
The facts as presented by the complainant
2.1
The complainant is of Amharic ethnic origin. During his high school in Addis
Ababa, he participated in several demonstrations supporting Colonel Mengistu. When
Mengistu came to power in February 1977, thousands of youth, including the
complainant, were sent to rural areas as part of a literacy campaign. Disappointed
with the regime, the complainant began to work for the Ethiopian People’s
Revolutionary Party (EPRP).