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EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     291   27.4.2000   Press release issued by the Registrar   CHAMBER JUDGMENTS   The European Court of Human Rights has today notified in writing the following six Chamber judgments concerning the Netherlands and Italy.   Section 1   1) Aspichi Dehwari v. the Netherlands (no. 37014/97) Struck off   Mahammad Rahim Aspichi Dehwari, an Iranian national born in 1959 and living in Leusden in the Netherlands, claimed he was an active political opponent of the Iranian regime from 1977 onwards. On 19 January 1995 he applied to the Dutch government for asylum and a residence permit on the grounds that, if he was expelled to Iran, he would be exposed to a serious risk of being tortured and possibly killed, either without a trial or following an unfair trial. His application was rejected. He then appealed to the Dutch courts, which dismissed his appeal on the grounds that he had not proved himself to be an important political activist and that he would therefore not be exposed to a real risk of being subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.   The applicant complained of violations of Articles 2 (right to life), 3 (freedom from torture) and 6 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention on Human Rights as well as Article 1 of Protocol No. 6 (abolition of the death penalty).   The Court observed that, having been granted a residence permit, the applicant no longer wished to pursue his application. It would nevertheless be open to the Court, having regard to its responsibilities under Article 37 § 1 in fine of the Convention, to continue its examination of the case if respect for human rights so required. However, that was not so in the present case and the Court decided unanimously to strike the case out of the list. An agreement was reached between the parties concerning costs.   The judgment is available only in English.   Section 2   2) Pepe v. Italy (no. 30132/97) Violation Article 6 § 1   Umberto Pepe, an Italian national born in 1945 and living in Frosinone, complained about criminal proceedings brought against him, which lasted four years and two months. The Court held unanimously that there had been a violation of Article 6 § 1 (right to a fair trial within a reasonable time) and awarded the applicant 12,000,000 Italian lira (ITL) for non-pecuniary damage. (Judgment in French).     3) Starace v. Italy (no. 34081/96)  Violation Article 6 § 1   Andrea Starace, an Italian national, complained about criminal proceedings brought against him, which lasted over seven years and seven months. The Court held unanimously that there had been a violation of Article 6 § 1 and awarded the applicant ITL 14,000,000 for non-pecuniary damage and ITL 5,000,000 for costs and expenses. (Judgment in English).   4) Rotondi v. Italy (no. 38113/97) Violation Article 6 § 1   Tommaso Rotondi, an Italian national, complained about civil proceedings to which he was a party, which, at the stage examined by the Court, had lasted over one year and eight months. The Court held by six votes to one that there had been a violation of Article 6 § 1 and awarded the applicant ITL 5,000,000 for non-pecuniary damage. (Judgment in French).   5) Bertozzi v. Italy (no. 39883/98) Violation Article 6 § 1   Guido Bertozzi, an Italian national, complained about civil proceedings to which he was a party, which lasted over fifteen years. The Court held unanimously that there had been a violation of Article 6 § 1 and awarded the applicant ITL 40,000,000 for non-pecuniary damage and ITL 5,000,000 for costs and expenses. (Judgment in French).   6) S.A.GE.MA S.N.C. v. Italy (no. 40184/98) Violation Article 6 § 1   S.A.GE.MA S.N.C., an Italian company, complained about civil proceedings to which it was a party, which lasted over two years and six months. The Court held by six votes to one that there had been a violation of Article 6 § 1 and awarded the applicant company ITL 6,000,000 for non-pecuniary damage. (Judgment in French).     ***   The Court’s judgments are accessible on its Internet site (http://www.echr.coe.int).   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F - 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts: Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92) Or:   Emma Hellyer (telephone: (0)3 90 21 42 15) Fax:    (0)3 88 41 27 91   The European Court of Human Rights was set up in 1959 in Strasbourg to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.  On 1 November 1998 a full-time Court was established, replacing the original two-tier system of a part-time Commission and Court.