Information Note on the Court’s case-law No.
December 1996
Ahmed v. Austria - 25964/94
Judgment 17.12.1996
Article 3
Expulsion
Deportation of Somali national convicted of criminal offence: deportation would constitute a violation
[This summary is extracted from the Court’s official reports (Series A or Reports of Judgments and Decisions). Its formatting and structure may therefore differ from the Case-Law Information Note summaries.]
I.SCOPE OF THE CASE
Delimited by Commission's decision on admissibility - Court cannot entertain complaints under Articles 5 and 13.
II.ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONVENTION
Restatement of case-law: right of Contracting States to control entry, residence and expulsion of aliens - absolute nature of Article 3.
Refugee status: granted to the applicant in 1992 then withdrawn in 1994 following his conviction for attempted robbery.
In the case of an expulsion that has not yet taken place, Court assesses risks run at the time when it considers the case - no change in the situation in Somalia since 1992.
Conclusion with regard to risks of treatment contrary to Article 3: not invalidated by applicant's criminal conviction or current lack of State authority in Somalia.
Conclusion: violation if deportation order were to be enforced (unanimously).
III.ARTICLE 50 OF THE CONVENTION
A.Damage
Pecuniary damage: claim dismissed.
Non-pecuniary damage: judgment constitutes sufficient compensation.
B.Costs and expenses
Reimbursement assessed on equitable basis.
Conclusion: respondent State ordered to pay a specified sum for costs and expenses (unanimously).
© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights
This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.
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