Case summaries

Denmark - the Refugee Appeals Board’s decision of 22 February 2017
Country of applicant: Iran

The applicant, an ethnic Kurd and a Yarsan from Kanehar, Kermanshah, Iran, had performed religious activities aimed at spreading the knowledge of the faith and thereby attracted the attention of the authorities.

The majority of the Board accepted the applicants account and consequently the Board found that the applicant risked persecution because of his Yarsan religious activities and granted refugee status under the Danish Aliens Act Art. 7 (1).

Date of decision: 22-02-2017
UK - R. (on the application of MM (Lebanon)) and Others v Secretary of State for the Home Department, 22 February 2017
Country of applicant: Congo (DRC), Lebanon, United Kingdom

The Immigration Rules (“the Rules”) minimum income requirements (“the MIR”) for individuals who have a right to live in the UK who wish to bring their non-EEA citizen spouses to live with them are not open to legal challenge. 

The Rules fail unlawfully to give effect to the duty of the Secretary of State (“the SoS”) in respect of the welfare of children under s.55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”), however the challenge to the validity of the Rules was dismissed.

To ensure that their decisions are compatible with the Human Rights Act 1998 (“the HRA”) however, revisions to instructions for entry clearance officers (“the Instructions”) are necessary.

Date of decision: 22-02-2017
CJEU - C-578/16 PPU, C.K. and others
Country of applicant: Egypt, Syria

Even where there are no substantial grounds for believing that there are systemic flaws in the Member State responsible, a Dublin transfer can only be carried out in conditions which exclude the possibility that that transfer might result in a real and proven risk of the person concerned suffering inhuman or degrading treatment within the meaning of Article 4 CFR EU.

If there is a real and proven risk that the state of health of an applicant who suffers from a serious mental or physical illness would significantly and permanently deteriorate, that transfer would constitute a violation of Article 4 CFR EU.

It is for the courts and authorities of the requesting Member State to eliminate any serious doubts concerning the impact of the transfer on the health of the person concerned by taking all necessary precaution. If the taking of precautions is not sufficient, it is for the authorities of the Member State concerned to suspend the execution of the transfer for as long as the applicant’s conditions render him unfit for transfer.

Member States may choose to conduct its own examination of that person’s application by making use of the “discretionary clause” laid down in Article 17(1) DRIII, but is not required to do so.

Date of decision: 16-02-2017
Denmark - the Refugee Appeals Board’s decision of 16 February 2017
Country of applicant: Iraq

The applicant, a stateless Palestinian and a Sunni Muslim from Baghdad, had been threatened by a Shia Militia working with or for the Ministry of Interior.

Based on the coherent, logical and consistent account in accordance with the current country of origin information the Board found the applicant exposed to persecution by the authorities or persecution supported by the authorities.

The applicant was granted refugee status under the Danish Aliens Act Art. 7 (1).

Date of decision: 16-02-2017
Germany - Administrative Court Ansbach, 16. February 2017, AN 6 K 16.01533
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

Decision to authorise legal aid in a process which concerns whether the applicant has a right to access an integration course.

Date of decision: 16-02-2017
Ireland - DN (A minor suing by his mother and next friend, AS) AS v The Chief Appeals Officer and the Minister for Social Protection, 16 February 2017

This case concerned the back dating of child benefit for families who were previously in the asylum procedure. 

Date of decision: 16-02-2017
Denmark - the Refugee Appeals Board’s decision of 15 February 2017
Country of applicant: Lebanon

A Stateless Palestinian and Sunni Muslim from Lebanon, single woman, born and raised in Saudi Arabia who had a conflict with her family because she had had a relationship with a French Christian man and lost her virginity.

The Board found that seen in isolation as a Stateless Palestinian the applicant is covered by the Danish Aliens Act Art 7 (1).

The Board found that because the applicant had never resided in Lebanon, did not have any relation to that country, and due to her conflict with her family and based on country of origin information regarding entry options to Saudi Arabia as well as Lebanon for Stateless Palestinians, neither Saudi Arabia nor Lebanon could be considered as a first country of asylum. Consequently, the applicant was granted refugee status under the Danish Aliens Act Art. 7 (1).

Date of decision: 15-02-2017
Ireland - NN -v- The Minister for Justice and Equality & Ors, 15 February 2017,
Country of applicant: Congo (DRC)

An application, by way of judicial review, for an order of certiorari to quash the decision of the second named defendant (that being the International Protection Appeals Tribunal) on the basis of the application of the incorrect standard of proof being applied, credibility assessment and disregard of notice of appeal and country of origin information. 

Date of decision: 15-02-2017
Ireland - EBS -v- The Refugee Appeals Tribunal & Anor, 13 February 2017

An application seeking leave for judicial review to quash the decision of the Refugee Appeals Tribunal on the basis of the Tribunal failing to take into account relevant information and a misapplication of Regulation 5(2) of S.I. 518 of 2006. 

Date of decision: 13-02-2017
Belgium – Council for Alien Law Litigation, 10 February 2017, n 182.109
Country of applicant: Congo (DRC)

After having committed several offences qualified as being of a ‘particular gravity’, Mr.O’s refugee status was revoked on April 21st 2006.

Upon appeal to the Council of Alien Law Litigation (‘CALL’), the question of the validity of article 55/3/1 of December 15th 1980 law (the ‘1980 Law’) arose. Although it is established that this provision is transposing article 14(4) of the Directive 2011/95/EU, its compatibility with the Geneva Convention must be verified.

The Council refuses then to pronounce itself on the question, arguing the competency of such matter is vested in the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Date of decision: 10-02-2017