1821244 (Refugee)

The applicant, an Iranian national of Kurdish ethnicity and Shia Muslim faith, sought a protection visa. The dispute centred on his claims of persecution in Iran, including harassment of his son by the Basij due to his son's refusal to support the organisation and his "westernised" lifestyle, and the applicant's own alleged detention and questioning by authorities on suspicion of involvement with political groups. The applicant also claimed workplace harassment and discrimination. The matter came before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant met the criteria for a protection visa under section 36(2) of the *Migration Act 1958* (Cth). This involved assessing whether he was a refugee within the meaning of section 5H, or whether Australia had protection obligations under section 36(2)(aa) due to a real risk of significant harm if returned to Iran. The Tribunal also considered the applicant's claims regarding his son's experiences and how these might impute fear to the applicant.

The Tribunal found that the applicant had not provided sufficient evidence to substantiate his claims. While acknowledging the applicant's stated fears and the detailed accounts of his alleged detentions and harassment, the Tribunal noted the lack of corroborating evidence. The applicant did not appear at the hearing or provide any further response to the Tribunal's requests for information. Consequently, the Tribunal affirmed the decision not to grant the applicant a protection visa.