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England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions >> The Secretary of State for the Home Department v MM (Zimbabwe) [2017] EWCA Civ 797 (22 June 2017) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2017/797.html Cite as: [2017] WLR(D) 418, [2017] 4 WLR 132, [2017] EWCA Civ 797 |
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ON APPEAL FROM THE UPPER TRIBUNAL (IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM CHAMBER)
RP/00021/2015
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
LORD JUSTICE SALES
and
LORD JUSTICE HENDERSON
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The Secretary of State for the Home Department |
Appellant |
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- and - |
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MM (Zimbabwe) |
Respondent |
____________________
Alasdair Mackenzie (instructed by TRP Solicitors) for the Respondent
Hearing date: 17 May 2017
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Crown Copyright ©
Lord Justice Sales:
"27. There have been no detailed findings of fact about the extent of [MM's] involvement in the MDC. I have seen his asylum interview in which he states that he was an active member. That evidence was clearly accepted by [the Secretary of State] in 2002 as his asylum claim was granted and there was no need for the matter to go to appeal and have findings of fact made. Although [MM] does not assert that he has been involved in political activity in the UK, I find that [the Secretary of State] has not produced evidence to substantiate her assertion that [MM] has no political or MDC profile. There is insufficient evidence for me to make findings about the level of his MDC profile and whether there would be parts of Zimbabwe where he would be safe.
28. Whilst in a normal asylum appeal the burden is on the appellant to prove that there is a real risk of persecution, here, as the risk has already been accepted, it is for [the Secretary of State] to show that it no longer exists. Taking all the evidence into account, I find that [the Secretary of State] has not shown that it would now be safe for [MM] to return to Zimbabwe. I agree with Miss Rutherford's [counsel for MM] conclusion that [the Secretary of State] has not shown that there has been a fundamental and durable change in Zimbabwe and I find that [MM] is still entitled to refugee status on the basis of his political opinion."
"stands or falls with his asylum case. The [Secretary of State] accepted that he would be at risk of persecution. I find that he has therefore shown that there is a real risk of a breach of his Article 2 and 3 rights if he were returned to Zimbabwe."
Discussion
Point (i): risk of ill-treatment on return to Zimbabwe
"that removal of the appellant from the United Kingdom in consequence of the immigration decision would breach the United Kingdom's obligations under the Refugee Convention or would be unlawful under section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 as being incompatible with the appellant's Convention rights."
"This Convention shall cease to apply to any person falling under the terms of section A if:
…
(5) He can no longer, because the circumstances in connexion with which he has been recognised as a refugee have ceased to exist, continue to refuse to avail himself of the protection of the country of his nationality; Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a refugee falling under section A(1) of this article who is able to invoke compelling reasons arising out of previous persecution for refusing to avail himself of the protection of the country of nationality; …"
"1. Concerning applications for international protection filed after the entry into force of this Directive, Member States shall revoke, end or refuse to renew the refugee status of a third country national or a stateless person granted by a governmental, administrative, judicial or quasi-judicial body, if he or she has ceased to be a refugee in accordance with Article 11.
2. Without prejudice to the duty of the refugee in accordance with Article 4(1) to disclose all relevant facts and provide all relevant documentation at his/her disposal, the Member State, which has granted refugee status, shall on an individual basis demonstrate that the person concerned has ceased to be or has never been a refugee in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article."
(Although the Qualification Directive came into effect after MM applied for and was granted refugee status, both parties made their submissions on the footing that Article 14(2) is applicable in his case).
Point (v): Article 8 and medical risk
"The only cases I can foresee where the absence of adequate medical treatment in the country to which a person is to be deported will be relevant to Article 8, is where it is an additional factor to be weighed in the balance, with other factors which by themselves engage Article 8. Suppose, in this case, the appellant had established firm family ties in this country, then the availability of continuing medical treatment here, coupled with his dependence on the family here for support, together establish 'private life' under Article 8. That conclusion would not involve a comparison between medical facilities here and those in Zimbabwe. Such a finding would not offend the principle expressed above that the United Kingdom is under no Convention obligation to provide medical treatment here when it is not available in the country to which the appellant is to be deported."
Conclusion
Lord Justice Henderson:
Lady Justice Black: