YUEKSEL v. SWITZERLAND

THE FACTS

The facts of the case, as submitted by the applicants, may be

summarised as follows:

The applicants are Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin. The first

and second applicants are husband and wife, the third and fourth

applicants are their children. The applicants were born in 1962, 1963,

1982 and 1986, respectively. Although residing in Switzerland, the

applicants have at present no permanent domicile. Before the

Commission they are represented by Mr. A. Rüst, a collaborator at the

Legal Advice Office for Asylum Seekers (Rechtsberatungsstelle für

Asylsuchende) in St. Gallen in Switzerland.

I.

As from 1976 the first applicant, while residing at Socag in

Turkey, supported the illegal marxist-leninist TKP-ML party. As a

result, he was reported to the authorities. In November 1988 he was

twice arrested by the police and detained for five and three days,

respectively, whereupon he was unconditionally released. While

detained the first applicant was interrogated daily during one to two

hours and also ill-treated.

Fearing further arrests the first applicant went to Istanbul in

the beginning of 1989. In the company where he worked he heard that

he was wanted by the police (gesucht) in Istanbul, in particular on 20

December 1991. This was probably because of his previous detention.

Thereupon, he decided to leave Turkey.

Various other family members have left Turkey and have been

granted asylum in Europe, for instance the husband of one of his

sisters and two distant relatives who both reside in France, and the

brother-in-law of another sister who resides in Switzerland.

II.

The first applicant left Turkey on 4 January 1990 and entered

Switzerland on 8 January 1990. The other applicants entered

Switzerland on 8 September 1990. All applicants applied for asylum.

When filing his request the first applicant was questioned as to

his motives. He stated that he feared persecution upon his return to

Turkey. He claimed that he had helped supporters of the TKP party

until 1980. He had left Turkey as he was suffering pressure on account

of his relatives who had been wanted by the authorities since 1988.

The second applicant explained that she was applying for asylum in

order not to be separated from her husband.

On 5 March 1990 the first applicant was questioned by the

competent authorities of the Canton of St. Gallen as to his motives for

applying for asylum. He stated that he was requesting asylum not on

account of his relatives, but because of his support of the TKP-ML

party. He claimed that he had also assisted the TKP-ML party after

1980, and that when previously questioned he had said that his

relatives had been wanted since 1980.

The first applicant further pointed out that he had supported

other members of the TKP-ML party in 1988 whenever they came to the

village. When questioned he stated that they stayed in the village

at night for approximately two hours. Subsequently he stated that they

spent the night with him.

Finally, the applicant was asked whether he wanted to add

anything to his statements. The applicant thereupon explained that

upon his first detention his wife had also been present at the police

station for one hour.

On 10 October 1990 the Delegate for Refugees (Delegierter für das

Flüchtlingswesen) dismissed the first applicant's request for asylum.

The decision considered in particular that on account of

contradictions the applicant's statements did not appear credible.

Thus, when filing his request for asylum he had stated that he had

assisted the TKP-ML party until 1980, whereas before the cantonal

authorities he had stated that he had helped this party until 1988.

Moreover, in respect of his relatives he had first mentioned the year

1988, and later 1980. The decision noted further discrepancies as to

the support which he had allegedly offered other members of the TKP-ML

party, in particular as to whether they had only stayed two hours in

the village, or had spent the night with him.

The appeal of the first and second applicants was dismissed by

the Asylum Appeals Commission (Asylrekurskommission) on 19 August 1992.

The decision upheld the grounds given by the Delegate. Insofar

as the applicants maintained that the contradictions resulted from an

incorrect translation when being questioned, the Appeals Commission

noted that when questioned on 5 March 1990 by the cantonal authorities

the applicant had been offered the possibility to provide further

information as to his allegations. However, he had failed further to

substantiate the alleged fears of persecution upon his return to

Turkey.

On 31 August 1992 the applicants were ordered to leave

Switzerland before 30 November 1992.

On 28 November 1992 the applicants filed a request for the

reopening of the previous proceedings (Revision).

COMPLAINTS

The applicants complain of the first applicant's impending

expulsion to Turkey. They allege that upon his return he will be

subjected to detention and torture contrary to Article 3 of the

Convention. The applicants allege that the first applicant was

incorrectly questioned by the Swiss authorities; they complain in

particular of a deceiving leading question (irreführende

Suggestivfrage).

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION

The application was introduced on 11 December 1992 and registered

on 5 January 1993.

On 21 December 1992 the President decided not to apply Rule 36

of the Commission's Rules of Procedure.