BS (IFA – Mixed Ethnicity)

The appellant, a citizen of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Kosovo), appeals, with leave, against the determination of an adjudicator, Mr I S Kulatilake, dismissing his appeal against the decision of the Respondent on 4 July 2001 to issue removal directions and refuse asylum

Ms Y Adedje represented the appellant. Mr M Pichamuthu, a Home Office Presenting Officer, represented the respondent.

Leave was granted on the basis that it was arguable that the adjudicator did not give sufficient reasons for his conclusion that it would not be unduly harsh to expect the appellant to relocate to another part of Kosovo and he erred in his conclusion that in those areas the appellant's mixed ethnicity would not become known.

The appellant came to the UK in 1999 when he was 19 years old. He is now 22 years old. His father, who was of Albanian ethnicity, died during the conflict in Kosovo when the family home was burned down with him inside it. His mother, who is of Serbian ethnicity, has gone back to Serbia and the appellant has lost touch with her.

The basis of the appellant's current claim is that he fears return due to his mixed ethnicity. In this he relies on the UNHCR's current advice, dated April 2002, in the following terms.

“While most Kosovo Albanians are able to return without protection difficulties, there are certain categories of Kosovo Albanians who may face serious problems, including physical danger, were they to return home at this time. These include Kosovo Albanians in ethnically mixed marriages and persons of mixed ethnicity. Claims from persons who fear persecution because they belong to one of these categories should be carefully considered in order to ascertain the need for international protection. Claims not falling in these categories may be considered in accelerated procedures.”

The adjudicator's basic findings are contained in paragraphs 16–19 of the determination, which states as follows.

“The evidence before me shows the appellant lived all his life in the district of Prizren. It is also the evidence, the appellant's mother, whose present whereabouts the appellant does not know, has since returned to Serbia. I accept the appellant's mixed ethnicity is likely to be known to those in his village and perhaps also in the district of Prizren. It is also the evidence that the appellant had no call up for arms by the KLA. Accordingly I find that at the time the appellant left Kosovo in May 1999 he was not under any pressure from the KLA, and neither is there evidence he had been threatened, beaten by KLA supporters, or for that matter from other Kosovan Albanians. The evidence before me is also insufficient to find the burning of the appellant's house with his father had anything to do with his father's mixed marriage.

I cannot ignore the concerns of the UNHCR in their report of the risks to those like the appellant and against the bitter ethnic conflict that raged in Kosovo, the appellant's fears for returning to Prizren I find are real……. This is because I find KFOR and UNMIK will not be able to protect the appellant in his village

However I do not consider it would be unduly harsh to expect the appellant to relocate perhaps to Pristina where his mixed ethnicity will not be known and moreover where the appellant would be better placed in finding employment and housing.”

Ms Adedje did not challenged the findings concerning the KLA or on the burning of house. She argued however that the finding that the appellant's mixed ethnicity was known not just in his village but also in the district of Prizren, meant that he would not be safe anywhere in Kosovo because there would be people who would be likely to recognise him,...