CAT/C/32/D/135/1999 Page 5 Arnhem in 1997;9 a ‘celebration’ on 15 August 1997 in Middelburg; the ‘Newroz celebration’ on 21 March 1998 in Middelburg; the International Labour Day celebration on 1 May 1998 in Rotterdam; and the ‘Mazlum Dogan’ Youth festivals in 1998 in several Dutch cities. In Denmark, he participated in meetings in Copenhagen where unspecified leaflets were handed out, and in what he describes as ‘different “Abdullah Ocalan related” activities’.10 He also refers to his participation in several ‘Kurdish activities’ in Germany, France and Belgium. 2.9 The complainant refers to the general human rights situation in Turkey, and in particular to reports from a number of non-governmental organizations and governments concerning the practice of torture in Turkey. He refers to the reports of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch published in 1999, which indicated that torture in Turkey was ‘commonplace’ and ‘widespread’. Reference is made to a report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment dated 23 February 1999, which refers to a visit by that body to Turkey in 1997 and notes that the existence and extent of the problem of torture in Turkey had been established beyond doubt. In particular, the author refers to a 1999 report by the Swiss Refugee Assistance Association (Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe), which describes the ‘deteriorating human rights situation in Turkey due to the arrest of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’, and notes that groups at risk of torture upon return to Turkey included members and sympathizers of HADEP, and persons involved with illegal parties and organizations. The Complaint 3. The complainant claims that he would be at risk of being tortured if he were returned to Turkey, and that his return would constitute a violation of article 3 of the Convention. The risk of torture is said to arise from the fact that he is a young Kurd who was previously tortured in Turkey, and that he has engaged in political activities both inside and outside Turkey. In this regard, he claims that there is a real risk that his involvement in the occupation of the Greek ambassador’s residence in the Hague is known to the Turkish authorities. 9 No details are provided. No details are provided. 10