Explusion of Christian convert stopped by the UN Committee against Torture

Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers
March 14, 2019
Phone: +46 70 725 19 17 / Email: info@shrl.eu

Expulsion of Christian convert stopped by the UN Committee against Torture

Swedish Television has drawn attention to the case of the two brothers Ali and Abolfazl, where the Migration Board has decided to expel the little brother Abolfazl to Afghanistan while big brother Ali received a temporary residence permit together with their parents: https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/uppsala/han-ska-utvisas-till-afghanistan-haller-sig-gomd-i-uppsala

After Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers filed a complaint with the UN Torture Committee, the Committee has decided to request that the Swedish Government stop the expulsion Abolfazl and that his case should be examined by the Committee.

- In our complain, we have claimed that an expulsion of our client is contrary to Article 3 of the UN Convention against Torture and Article 3 of the European Convention. It follows from these provisions that a state may not execute an expulsion order to a country if the alien is at risk of being subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in that country. We argue that our client is a genuine convert and it is undisputed that Christian converts are being sentenced to death and tortured in Afghanistan, where the persecution of Christians is at an extreme level, says Ruth Nordström, Chief Lawyer, Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers

- We have represented converts in a large number of cases, and it is clear that the assessment of genuine conversion is often deficient and unreliable. For example, there is no expert knowledge about religion and conversion among the authorities and the assessments lack in objectivity. This contradicts, for example, UNHCR's recommendations, says Rebecca Ahlstrand, lawyer at the Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers.

- We look seriously at the shortcomings that occur in asylum investigations that concern religious beliefs and conversions within Swedish authorities, and are therefore delighted that the UN once again stops an expulsion concerning a convert, says Ruth Nordström, chirf lawyer, Scandinavian Human Rights Lawyers.

Skandinaviska Människorättsjuristerna (SHRL) är en skandinavisk juristorganisation som arbetar med att främja mänskliga rättigheter i Europa. SHRL är medlem i EU:s plattform för mänskliga rättigheter, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights http://fra.europa.eu/en)

SHRL arbetar via internationella nätverk och organ och som styrdokument finns FN:s deklaration om mänskliga rättigheter, Barnkonventionen, Europakonventionen om de mänskliga rättigheterna och Europarådets konvention om bekämpande av människohandel. SHRL och Scandinavian Human Rights Committee delar årligen ut priset Scandinavian Human Dignity Award.