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ECtHR - Ahmed v. Austria, Application No. 25964/94, 17 December 1996
Country of applicant: Somalia

This case involved a Somali refugee in Austria whose refugee status was ordered as forfeited after a criminal conviction. Because of the absolute nature of Art. 3, the Court found his criminal conviction immaterial and that he still faced a serious risk of persecution in Somalia, therefore Austria would breach its obligations under Art. 3 if his deportation was executed. 

Date of decision: 17-12-1996
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,International Law,Council of Europe Instruments,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 3,Article 5,Article 13
ECtHR - Chahal v. The United Kingdom, Application No. 22414/93, 15 November 1996
Country of applicant: India, United Kingdom

This case involved the UK’s attempted deportation of an Indian citizen and leader of the Sikh separatist movement who lived in the UK and was allegedly a national security threat. Because of the risk of ill-treatment, the Court found the UK would breach Art. 3 if he were deported to India, in conjunction with a violation of Art. 13. Because he was not able to review the lawfulness of his prolonged detention, the Court also found a violation of Art. 5 (4). 

Date of decision: 15-11-1996
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,International Law,Council of Europe Instruments,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 3,Article 5,Article 8,Article 13
ECtHR - Amuur v. France, Application no 19776/92, 25 June 1996
Country of applicant: Somalia

The Court found that the French authorities had violated Article 5 para 1 of the Convention by holding four Somali nationals in the international zone of the Paris-Orly airport.

Date of decision: 25-06-1996
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 3,Article 5,Article 6,Article 13,Article 25,Article 32,Article 43,Article 47,Article 50,Art 5.1
UK - Immigration Appeal Tribunal, 10 June 1994, Kaja (Political asylum; standard of proof) (Zaire) [1994] UKIAT 11038
Country of applicant: Congo (DRC)
The Immigration Appeal Tribunal (IAT) addressed the question of whether the assessment of facts and the determination of refugee status involved a two stage process with different standards of proof. The standard of proof for the assessment of status is “reasonable degree of likelihood.”
Date of decision: 10-06-1994
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Qualification Directive, Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004,1951 Refugee Convention,Art 4,Art 1A,UNHCR Handbook,Para 42
ECtHR - Soering v. The United Kingdom, Application No. 14038/88, 7 July 1989
Country of applicant: Germany

The Court found that in the event of the United Kingdom Secretary of State’s decision to extradite a fugitive indicted of murder in the United States being implemented, there would be a violation of Article 3 due to the possibility of his conviction of a death sentence, and the treatment and punishment he would face on death row in Virginia. 

Date of decision: 07-07-1989
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,ECHR (Sixth Protocol),International Law,Council of Europe Instruments,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,UN Convention against Torture