CAT/C/48/D/453/2011 Annex Decision of the Committee against Torture under article 22 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (forty-eighth session) concerning Communication No. 453/2011 Submitted by: Oskartz Gallastegi Sodupe Alleged victim: The author State party: Spain Date of complaint: 20 January 2011 (initial submission) The Committee against Torture, established under article 17 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Meeting on 23 May 2011, Having concluded its consideration of complaint No. 453/2011, submitted to the Committee by Oskartz Gallastegi Sodupe 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 complainant, his counsel and the State party, Adopts the following decision pursuant to article 22, paragraph 7, of the Convention: Decision under article 7, paragraph 22, of the Convention against Torture 1. The complainant is Orkatz Gallastegi Sodupe, a Spanish national born on 7 June 1982. He claims to be the victim of a violation by Spain of articles 12, 14 and 15 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The complainant is represented by counsel, Ms. Iratxe Urizar and Mr. Julen Arzuaga. The facts as submitted by the complainant 2.1 On 24 October 2002, when he was 20 years of age, Mr. Gallastegi Sodupe was arrested by the Ertzaintza (Basque autonomous police force) in Berango (Bizkaia) during a police operation in which five other youths were also arrested on charges connected with sabotage and damage to public property. 2.2 The complainant was arrested in a violent manner at 5 a.m. in his home by masked police. He was thrown to the ground and handcuffed, and his house was searched for three 2 GE.12-43762

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