CEDH · PRESS;GENERAL;ENG — 21 janvier 2001

.s800EAC49 { font-size:12pt } .sFE10DC93 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:center } .s29100277 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold } .sA1D3DA2E { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:justify } .s94935B0F { width:389.85pt; display:inline-block } .s32563E28 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial } .sCB27B9E { width:16.66pt; display:inline-block } .sC5412BEF { width:51.05pt; display:inline-block } .sA36B60A1 { font-family:Arial; font-style:italic } .s4DDA3AA3 { font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; font-style:italic } EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS     48   23.1.2001   Press release issued by the Registrar   CASE OF PAPON v. FRANCE       On 12 January 2001, lawyers acting for Mr Maurice Papon, who is currently serving a custodial sentence in the Santé Prison in Paris, lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights on account of his continued imprisonment despite his age and health. Mr   Papon relied on Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment). At the same time Mr Papon’s lawyers sought, under Rule 41 of the Rules of Court, to have the application dealt with as a matter of urgency.   The Court has today decided to invite the French Government to submit information and comments to it in writing on a number of points concerning Mr Papon’s prison conditions and regime.   The Court further decided to avail itself of the discretion afforded by Rule 41 and the examination of the case will therefore be expedited. A Court spokesperson indicated that a decision on the admissibility of the application could be taken within six to nine months.   The Court also considered an earlier application lodged by Mr Papon in January 2000. That concerned mainly the fairness of his Assize Court trial and the forfeiture in October 1999 of his right to appeal to the Court of Cassation on points of law, as a consequence of his refusal to surrender to custody on the day before the hearing at the Court of Cassation. The Court put a number of questions to the Government concerning the complaints made in this application likewise.   ***   Registry of the European Court of Human Rights F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex Contacts:   Roderick Liddell (telephone: (0)3 88 41 24 92)   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 Strasbourg in 1959 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.