Resolution CM/ResDH(2011)311[1]
Execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
Jabari and D. and others against Turkey
(See appendix for details of cases)
The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which provides that the Committee supervises the execution of final judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Convention” and “the Court”);
Having regard to the judgments transmitted by the Court to the Committee once they had become final;
Recalling that the violations of the Convention found by the Court in these cases mainly concern the fact that there was a real risk of the applicants being subjected to treatment contrary to Article 3 if they were to be returned to Iran (violations of Article 3) and lack of an effective remedy in this regard (case of Jabari, violation of Article 13) (see details in Appendix);
Having invited the government of the respondent state to inform the Committee of the measures taken to comply with its obligation under Article 46, paragraph 1, of the Convention to abide by the judgments;
Having examined the information provided by the government in accordance with the Committee’s Rules for the application of Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention;
Having satisfied itself that the respondent state paid the applicants the just satisfaction provided in the judgments (see details in Appendix),
Recalling that a finding of violations by the Court requires, over and above the payment of just satisfaction awarded in the judgments, the adoption by the respondent state, where appropriate, of
- individual measures to put an end to the violations and erase their consequences so as to achieve as far as possible restitutio in integrum; and
- general measures preventing similar violations;
DECLARES, having examined the measures taken by the respondent state (see Appendix) that it has exercised its functions under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention in these cases and
DECIDES to close the examination of these cases.
Appendix to Resolution CM/ResDH(2011)311
Information on the measures taken to comply with the judgments in the cases of Jabari and D. and others against Turkey
Introductory case summary
These cases concern potential violations of Article 3 due to the fact that the applicants’ asylum requests were refused by the authorities solely on the grounds that applicants have failed to comply with procedural requirements under the Asylum Regulation. Their requests were rejected without a consideration made as to whether there was a real risk of the applicants being subjected to treatment contrary to Article 3 if they were to be returned to Iran (violation of Article 3).
The Jabari case also concerns the absence of an effective remedy because the competent administrative court failed to scrutinize rigorously the claim that there existed substantial grounds for fearing that there was a risk of ill-treatment in the country of destination. The administrative court also failed to consider the possibility of suspending the implementation of the expulsion measure (violation of Article 13).
Payment of just satisfaction and individual measures
a) Details of just satisfaction
Case and application
Judgment of
Final on
Pecuniary damage
Non-pecuniary damage
Costs and expenses
Total
Jabari 40035/98
11/7/2000
11/10/2000
No just satisfaction awarded
D. and others 24245/03
22/06/06
23/10/06
--
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EUR 4143
EUR 4143
Paid on 23/01//2007
b) Individual measures
In the Jabari case, the applicant was granted a residence permit in Turkey following the judgment of the European Court. She obtained a Canadian visa and left Turkey on 25 September 2001 with the aim of settling in Canada.
In the D. and others case, the applicants were granted “refugee status” in Turkey. Afterwards, they obtained from the Canadian authorities a renewable residence permit, and left Turkey on 12/11/2008 with the permission of the Ministry of the Interior.
Consequently, no other individual measure was considered necessary by the Committee of Ministers.
II.General measures
The judgments of the European Court were translated and published in the Judiciary Legislation Bulletin of the Ministry of Justice.
The deadline for requesting political asylum was increased from five to ten days following the amendments introduced in Regulations on political asylum seekers in 1999. The ten day deadline starts from the day when a political asylum seeker enters into Turkey through legal or illegal ways. The Turkish authorities provided a number of examples of the Council of State decisions in this respect. It appears from these examples that aliens are not automatically expelled following the expiry of the 10 day deadline. It also appears from the examples provided that courts interpret Turkish law in compliance with Turkey’s international commitments. Furthermore, the competent authorities are under an obligation to carry out an assessment as to whether a person is under the threat of ill‑treatment or torture if expelled to his or her country of origin.
Other issues concerning the right to an effective remedy in this matter are being examined in the context of other judgments of the European Court pending before the Committee of Ministers.
III.Conclusions of the respondent state
The government considers that the measures adopted have fully remedied the consequences for the applicants of the violation of the Convention found by the European Court in these cases, that these measures will prevent similar violations and that Turkey have thus complied with their obligations under Article 46, paragraph 1, of the Convention.
[1] Adopted by the Committee of Ministers by tacit procedure in accordance with the decision taken at the 1128th meeting (December 2011) under item F.
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