21/11/2014
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found that expelling an Iranian national from Switzerland to Iran would give rise to inhumane and degrading treatment prohibited by Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) due to a sentencing where the applicant was not present but where he was convicted for participation in demonstrations against the Iranian regime.
The applicant, M.A., is a political dissident who had been convicted and faced 7 years in prison, 70 lashes and a fine for political demonstrations against the Iranian regime. The Court finds that if the applicant were to be sent back and the punishment enforced the applicant would be exposed to inhuman and degrading treatment and to the risk of being tortured.
For further information:
- UN Human Rights Council, Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2014, 11 March 2014
- US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Iran, 2013
- Freedom from Torture, We will make you regret everything- Torture in Iran since the 2009 elections, 2013, March 2013
- European Court of Human Rights, S.F. and Others v. Sweden, no. 52077/10, § 63, 15 May 2012
This article originally appeared in the ECRE Weekly Bulletin of 21November 2014. You can subscribe to the Weekly Bulletin here.