CAT/C/35/D/258/2004 Page 8 4.3 Throughout the appeal process, the complainant asserted that he did not commit the offence. However, he has made several statements which effectively amount to admitting his crimes, and has even expressed remorse for the victim. The State party refers, in this respect, to the submissions made by the complainant relating to the Ministerial Opinion Report dated 30 October 2000. 4.4 The Ministerial Opinion Report, dated 15 October 2000, concluded that there was little doubt that the complainant received harsh and inhuman treatment when he was in Iran. Relying on the 1999 US Country Report on Human Rights Practices, the Opinion also observed that he could face harsh and inhuman treatment upon his return. However, the Opinion determined that the risk that the complainant represented to Canadian society outweighed any risk that he might face upon his return to Iran. As a result of the Report, the complainant was ordered deported on 18 June 2001. On 14 November 2001, due to procedural defects, the Federal Court ordered the Opinion set aside, and referred the matter back for re-determination. 4.5 A second Ministerial Opinion Report was issued against the complainant on 21 November 2002. The Risk Assessment given in the Request of Minister’s Opinion, dated 17 July 2002, was that there were no substantive grounds to believe that the complainant would face torture, and that it was unlikely that he would be subject to other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, should he be removed to Iran. This assessment was based on the fact that the complainant did not provide details of his current involvement with the NIMA organization, that it had been 20 years since participating in the failed coup, and 16 years since he had left Iran. On 21 November 2002, the Minister gave his opinion. He noted that the situation in Iran had ameliorated somewhat, but that there was a risk that the complainant could be re-arrested due to his prison escape and again subjected to torture. It concluded, however, that the significant risk to the public in Canada had to be given greater weight than the risk that the complainant may be rearrested and tortured upon his return to Iran. On 8 July 2003, due to procedural defects, the Federal Court of Canada ordered the Opinion set aside and referred the matter back for redetermination. 4.6 A third Ministerial Opinion Report was issued on 8 March 2004. It concluded that the complainant, like other returnees, may be subjected to a search and to extensive questioning upon return to Iran for evidence of antigovernment activities abroad. However, in itself, this did not establish any serious risk that he would face torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. The report recalled that it had been 21 years since the complainant was imprisoned for his political activities and that there had been a large reform movement in Iran since 1997. Furthermore, it was difficult to accept that the complainant maintained any high profile within Iranian society. The Opinion also referred to the situation of pro- monarchists in Iran citing two papers that were prepared by the Research Directorate of the Immigration and Refugee Board in March 2000 and October 2002. The first one concluded that the monarchists were no longer organized and active in Iran. The second stated that monarchist demonstrations were dispersed using tear gas and clubs and that some individuals were arrested. The Opinion concluded that the complainant would be of limited interest to Iranian authorities due to his former membership in a pro- monarchist organization which no longer posed a threat to the current regime.