1501903 (Refugee)

The applicant, who sought a Protection visa, claimed he feared returning to Lebanon due to threats from his former partner, who he alleged was a member of Hezbollah and controlled the airport. He asserted that his refusal to convert to Islam and his membership in the Lebanese Forces had led to the breakdown of their short marriage and subsequent threats. The applicant also claimed that as a Catholic Maronite, he would be harmed by Islamist fanatics and that Lebanese authorities would not protect him because Hezbollah held significant influence.

The legal issue before the Tribunal was whether the applicant met the criteria for a Protection visa under section 36(2) of the Act, specifically concerning his claims of persecution and lack of protection in Lebanon. The Tribunal was required to consider the applicant's claims in light of relevant policy guidelines and country information, as mandated by Ministerial Direction No. 56.

The Tribunal found that the applicant did not satisfy the criterion in section 36(2) of the Act. While the applicant presented a narrative of threats and fear stemming from his former partner and her alleged connections to Hezbollah, the decision does not detail the specific reasoning for rejecting these claims. However, it explicitly states that there was no suggestion the applicant satisfied section 36(2) based on being part of a family unit with a person holding a Protection visa.

Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the decision not to grant the applicant a Protection visa.