1702458 (Refugee)

The applicant, a Christian from Pakistan, sought review of a decision by the Minister to refuse to grant a protection visa. The Federal Circuit Court had previously remitted the matter to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for redetermination. The applicant claimed to fear persecution in Pakistan due to his religion, alleging past harm and inadequate compensation for land taken from his family.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant had a well-founded fear of persecution for a reason specified in section 5(1) of the *Migration Act 1958* (Cth), specifically for his religion. This involved assessing the applicant's credibility and considering the objective country information regarding the treatment of Christians in Pakistan, particularly in relation to land disputes and compensation.

In its reasoning, the Tribunal considered the applicant's evidence regarding his conversion to Christianity and the alleged persecution he faced. It also examined the evidence concerning the land dispute and the compensation received. The Tribunal applied the principles established in refugee law concerning the assessment of credibility and the determination of a well-founded fear of persecution, taking into account the objective country information. The Tribunal ultimately found that the applicant did not have a well-founded fear of persecution for a Convention reason.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review.