or she would return. It follows that the existence of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights in a country does not as such constitute a sufficient ground for determining that a person would be in danger of being subjected to torture upon his return to that country; specific grounds must exist that indicate that the individual concerned would be personally at risk. Similarly, the absence of a consistent pattern of gross violations of human rights does not mean that a person cannot be considered to be in danger of being subjected to torture in his or her specific circumstances. 9.3 In the instant case, the Committee considers that the author’s political affiliation and activities, her history of detention and torture, should be taken into account when determining whether she would be in danger of being subjected to torture upon her return. The State party has pointed to contradictions and inconsistencies in the author’s story, but the Committee considers that complete accuracy is seldom to be expected by victims of torture and that such inconsistencies as may exist in the author’s presentation of the facts are not material and do not raise doubts about the general veracity of the author’s claims. 9.4 The Committee has noted the State party’s assertion that in general returned asylum seekers do not face political persecution upon return, owing to the fact that the Government of Zaire is aware that many leave because of economic, not political reasons. Be this as it may, in the instant case the author has claimed, and the State party has not contested, that she was an active member of UDPS, chairperson of the women’s group in her home town, that her husband was the personal secretary of one of UDPS leaders, that she was detained because of her political activities and that she has continued her political activities in support of UDPS in Sweden. In the circumstances, the Committee need not take into consideration the general situation of returned refugee claimants, but rather the situation of returned refugee claimants who are active members of the opposition to the Government of President Mobutu. 9.5 In this context, the Committee has noted the position of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, according to whom deportees who are discovered to have sought asylum abroad undergo interrogation upon arrival at Kinshasa airport, following which those who are believed to have a political profile are at risk of detention and consequently ill-treatment. The Committee also notes that, according to the information available, members of UDPS continue to be targeted for political persecution in Zaire. 9.6 In the circumstances, the Committee considers that substantial grounds exist for believing that the author would be in danger of being subjected to torture if returned to Zaire. 9.7 The Committee concludes that the expulsion or return of the author to Zaire in the prevailing circumstances would constitute a violation of article 3 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 10. In the light of the above, the Committee is of the view that, in the prevailing circumstances, the State party has an obligation to refrain from forcibly returning Pauline Muzonzo Paku Kisoki to Zaire. [Done in English, French, Russian and Spanish, the English text being the original version.] -86-