Burden / standard of proof / Country of origin information (COI)

Heard at Bradford on 10-11 November 2008.

2 February 2009 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Country of origin information (COI) - Discrimination based on race, nationality, ethnicity - Human rights activists - Internal flight alternative (IFA) / Internal relocation alternative (IRA) / Internal protection alternative (IPA) - Kurd - Persecution based on political opinion - Rejected asylum-seekers - Statelessness - Unlawful departure | Countries: Syrian Arab Republic - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The case summary in English has been prepared in the framework of the Knowledge-Based Harmonisation of European Asylum Practices Project (2010-2012), co-financed by the European Refugee Fund.

27 January 2009 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Complementary forms of protection - Country of origin information (COI) - EU Qualification Directive - Internal armed conflict - Internal flight alternative (IFA) / Internal relocation alternative (IRA) / Internal protection alternative (IPA) - Internally displaced persons (IDPs) - Racial / Ethnic persecution - Returnees - Sheikhal | Countries: Somalia - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Heard at Field House on 28 October 2008.

5 January 2009 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Country of origin information (COI) - Internal flight alternative (IFA) / Internal relocation alternative (IRA) / Internal protection alternative (IPA) - Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) - Non-state agents of persecution - Pashtun - Persecution on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity - Prosecution vs persecution - Social group persecution | Countries: Afghanistan - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Application for judicial review.

22 December 2008 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: High Court (England and Wales) | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Country of origin information (COI) - Evidence (including age and language assessments / medico-legal reports) - Opposition - Persecution based on political opinion - Persecution of family members - Political parties | Countries: Gambia - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Heard at Field House on 2 October 2008.

22 December 2008 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Arbitrary arrest and detention - Chechen - Country of origin information (COI) - Evidence (including age and language assessments / medico-legal reports) - Freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment - Internal flight alternative (IFA) / Internal relocation alternative (IRA) / Internal protection alternative (IPA) - Muslim - Persecution based on political opinion - Women-at-risk | Countries: Russian Federation - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Heard at Glasgow (Eagle Building) on 7 May 2008. The guidance in SM and Others (Kurds - Protection - Relocation) Iraq CG [2005] UKIAT 00111 regarding relocation of a Kurd from the KRG to central or southern Iraq is confirmed.

15 December 2008 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Blood feuds - Complementary forms of protection - Country of origin information (COI) - Criminal justice - Evidence (including age and language assessments / medico-legal reports) - Freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment - Honour killings - Internal flight alternative (IFA) / Internal relocation alternative (IRA) / Internal protection alternative (IPA) - Kurd | Countries: Iraq - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Admissibility decision.

2 December 2008 | Judicial Body: Council of Europe: European Court of Human Rights | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Country of origin information (COI) - Deportation / Forcible return - Effective remedy - Immigration Detention - Non-refoulement - Refoulement - Safe third country - Single procedure | Countries: Iran, Islamic Republic of - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

26 November 2008 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Court of Session (Scotland) | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Complementary forms of protection - Country of origin information (COI) - Military service / Conscientious objection / Desertion / Draft evasion / Forced conscription - Persecution based on political opinion - Returnees - Women-at-risk | Countries: Eritrea - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Heard at Field House on 1, 2 and 5 September, and 1 and 30 October 2008. This determination partially supersedes HS (Returning Asylum Seekers) Zimbabwe v. Secretary of State for the Home Department CG [2007] UKAIT 00094. Subsequently replaced by EM and Others (Returnees) Zimbabwe CG [2011] UKUT 98 (IAC). The case summary in English has been prepared in the framework of the Knowledge-Based Harmonisation of European Asylum Practices Project (2010-2012), co-financed by the European Refugee Fund.

19 November 2008 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Complementary forms of protection - Country of origin information (COI) - Persecution based on political opinion - Political parties - Political situation - Returnees | Countries: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - Zimbabwe

Conditions for Christians in Iran have not deteriorated sufficiently to necessitate a change in the guidance in FS and Others (Iran - Christian Converts) Iran CG [2004] UKIAT 00303 Iran. For some converts to sacrament-based churches the conditions may be such that they could not reasonably be expected to return and their cases must be considered on HJ (Homosexuality: Reasonably Tolerating Living Discreetly) Iran [2008] UKAIT 00044 grounds.
It remains to be seen whether the proposed inclusion of apostasy in the amended criminal code will make a material difference. The amendments to the code are part of a wholesale change in the criminal law and not solely aimed at converts. The proposals are still before Parliament.
'Proselytising' and 'evangelising' are not terms of art and distinctions should not be drawn between them.
Insofar as related to non-ethnic Christians, this decision is replaced by the country guidance decision in PS (Christianity - risk) Iran CG [2020] UKUT 00046 (IAC).

12 November 2008 | Judicial Body: United Kingdom: Asylum and Immigration Tribunal / Immigration Appellate Authority | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Arbitrary arrest and detention - Catholic - Christian - Country of origin information (COI) - Criminal justice - Deportation / Forcible return - Evangelical - Freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment - Religious persecution (including forced conversion) | Countries: Iran, Islamic Republic of - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland