1800447 (Refugee)

This matter concerned an application for review of a delegate's decision to refuse to grant the applicant, a national of Turkey, a protection visa. The applicant claimed he feared persecution as a supporter of Fethullah Gulen, alleging the current Turkish regime was a dictatorship and that he would be jailed without trial, unable to seek protection from Turkish authorities or relocate within Turkey.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant met the criteria for a protection visa, specifically whether he had a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of political opinion, or alternatively, whether there was a real risk of significant harm if he were removed to Turkey. This involved assessing the applicant's credibility and the consistency of his claims and evidence.

The Tribunal affirmed the delegate's decision, finding the applicant to be an unreliable and untruthful witness. This conclusion was based on significant inconsistencies in his evidence, particularly regarding his travel history to a third country. The applicant initially failed to declare a trip to [Country] in his visa application, later providing vague and evasive explanations when questioned by the Tribunal. His assertion that he did not complete the application form himself due to his limited English, while acknowledging that a third party assisted him, was found to be unpersuasive and misleading, especially in light of evidence suggesting [Mr A] had paid the application fee. Consequently, the Tribunal was not satisfied that the applicant had established a well-founded fear of persecution or a real risk of significant harm.