In November 2000 ”Karim”, a Syrian national, lodged a criminal complaint with the Geneva Attorney General concerning his alleged ill-treatment during an attempt by Vaud cantonal police to deport him via Geneva-Cointrin airport to Syria earlier that month. At the same time a request for an administrative investigation was addressed to the Vaud cantonal authorities. Karim had been found guilty of criminal offences by Swiss cantonal authorities and was the subject of expulsion and banning orders from Switzerland. He had been living in the Canton of Vaud with his wife and their two-year-old son, both Swiss citizens.