SOBHANI v. SWEDEN



                      Application No. 32999/96

                      by Shahram SOBHANI

                      against Sweden

     The European Commission of Human Rights sitting in private on

10 July 1998, the following members being present:

           MM    S. TRECHSEL, President

                 J.-C. GEUS

                 M.P. PELLONPÄÄ

                 E. BUSUTTIL

                 G. JÖRUNDSSON

                 A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK

                 A. WEITZEL

                 J.-C. SOYER

                 H. DANELIUS

                 F. MARTINEZ

                 C.L. ROZAKIS

           Mrs   J. LIDDY

           MM    L. LOUCAIDES

                 B. MARXER

                 M.A. NOWICKI

                 I. CABRAL BARRETO

                 B. CONFORTI

                 N. BRATZA

                 I. BÉKÉS

                 D. SVÁBY

                 G. RESS

                 A. PERENIC

                 C. BÎRSAN

                 P. LORENZEN

                 K. HERNDL

                 E. BIELIUNAS

                 E.A. ALKEMA

                 M. VILA AMIGÓ

           Mrs   M. HION

           MM    R. NICOLINI

                 A. ARABADJIEV

           Mr    M. de SALVIA, Secretary to the Commission

     Having regard to Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection

of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

     Having regard to the application introduced on 12 July 1996 by

Shahram SOBHANI against Sweden and registered on 17 September 1996

under file No. 32999/96;

     Having regard to the reports provided for in Rule 47 of the Rules

of Procedure of the Commission;

     Having regard to the information submitted by the respondent

Government on 17 June 1998;

     Having deliberated;

     Decides as follows:

THE FACTS

     The applicant is an Iranian citizen born in 1971.  Before the

Commission he is represented by Mr. Stig-Åke Petersson, a legal adviser

of the Swedish Federation for Gay and Lesbian Rights (Riksförbundet för

sexuellt likaberättigande) in Stockholm.

     On 16 October 1994 the applicant arrived in Sweden where he later

applied for asylum.  On 12 May 1995 the National Immigration Board

(Statens invandrarverk) rejected the application and ordered the

applicant's expulsion to Iran.  The applicant's appeal was rejected by

the Aliens Appeals Board (Utlänningsnämnden) on 11 March 1996.

     On 21 May 1996 the applicant lodged a new application with the

Appeals Board.  On 20 November 1996 the Board stopped the enforcement

of the expulsion order and on 6 December 1996 it referred the new

application to the Government.  By decision of 28 May 1998, the

Government quashed the expulsion order and granted the applicant a

permanent residence permit.

COMPLAINTS

     Invoking Articles 2, 3 and 8 of the Convention, the applicant

claimed that he would be arrested and executed upon return to Iran on

account of his homosexuality.

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION

     The application was introduced on 12 July 1996 and registered on

17 September 1996.

     On 5 December 1996 the Commission decided, pursuant to Rule 36

of its Rules of Procedure, to indicate to the respondent Government

that it was desirable in the interest of the parties and the proper

conduct of the proceedings not to expel the applicant to Iran until the

Commission had had an opportunity to examine the application.  The

Commission further decided, pursuant to Rule 48 para. 2 (b), to

communicate the application to the Government.

     By decision of 23 January 1997, the Commission prolonged the

indication under Rule 36 until 18 April 1997.  On 17 April 1997 the

Commission decided to adjourn the application pending the outcome of

the proceedings pending before the Government and to prolong the Rule

36 indication until the Commission had had the opportunity to examine

the application in the light of both parties' observations.

     On 17 June 1998 the Government informed the Commission of its

decision of 28 May 1998 to grant the applicant a permanent residence

permit.  The Government requested the Commission to strike the

application out of its list of cases.

     By letter of 1 July 1998, the applicant expressed the wish to

withdraw the present application.

REASONS FOR THE DECISION

     Having regard to Article 30 para. 1 (a) of the Convention, the

Commission notes that the applicant does not intend to pursue his

petition.  Further, as he has been granted a permanent residence

permit, the Commission finds, in accordance with Article 30 para.

1 (b), that the matter has been resolved.  Moreover, as regards the

issues raised in the present case, the Commission finds no reasons of

a general character affecting respect for human rights, as defined in

the Convention, which require the further examination of the

application by virtue of Article 30 para. 1 in fine.

     For these reasons, the Commission, unanimously,

     DECIDES TO STRIKE THE APPLICATION OUT OF ITS LIST OF CASES.

        M. de SALVIA                         S. TRECHSEL

          Secretary                           President

      to the Commission                   of the Commission

 

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