tyres on which metal thread was stuck, she was burnt with cigarettes on the inside of her thighs and struck with batons. 2.3 The author was detained for one year without trial. On 20 October 1991, with the assistance of one of the supervisors of the prison who had been bribed by the author’s sister, the author was able to escape. She then travelled to Sweden, via Belgium, on a passport of a woman who resembled her. Later, she sent the passport back to the woman. 2.4 The author arrived in Sweden on 14 November 1991 and immediately requested asylum. On 31 January 1994, the Swedish Board of Immigration refused her request, noting that the political situation in Zaire had improved and considering that it was not likely that Ms. Muzonzo would be subjected to persecution or severe harassment because of her past activities for UDPS. The Board further questioned the circumstances surrounding her release from prison and her leaving Zaire. 2.5 On 13 February 1995, The Aliens Appeal Board confirmed the decision of the Swedish Board of Immigration and concluded that in the present circumstances in Zaire, Ms. Muzonzo did not risk persecution by the authorities. The author then submitted a "new application" to the Appeal Board, referring to the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Zaire of 23 December 1994. b/ On 16 March 1995 the Board rejected her application, considering that the circumstances invoked by the author could not be seen as new evidence. 2.6 On 12 December 1995, the author submitted yet another new application to the Swedish Aliens Appeal Board, on the basis of new forensic medical evidence, prepared by the Centre for Torture and Trauma Survivors in Stockholm. On 7 February 1996, the Aliens Appeal Board rejected the author’s application, judging that the information now submitted could easily have been submitted earlier, thereby decreasing the trustworthiness of her claim. The complaint 3.1 The author claims that the decisions taken by the Swedish authorities are founded on a false image of the situation in Zaire. She refers to the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Zaire, b/ where it is reported that the practice of torture is common in Zaire and that female prisoners are often raped. She also refers to the background paper on Zairian refugees and asylum seekers of March 1995 of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where it is mentioned that the Security Police have shown a particular interest in returned asylum seekers, who are being subjected to long sessions of interrogation. 3.2 The author recalls that she has been a member of UDPS since 1987 and that her restaurant was frequently used by the local branch of the party for political meetings. Moreover, the author headed the local women’s group and participated in several large UDPS demonstrations against the Mobutu regime. In the summer of 1990 she organized a women’s protest at Kinshasa in which thousands of women participated. Moreover, the author states that she has continued her political activities in Sweden and that she regularly attends UDPS meetings and demonstrations. A letter of support from the UDPS Sweden is enclosed with the communication. In this context, the author also states that between 1985 and 1990 her husband was the personal secretary of Bosasi Bolia, a co-founder and leader of UDPS. At present, he is seeking asylum in the Congo. -82-