Exclusion of Terrorist Suspects from the Refugee Status on the basis of Article 1F c) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

The article deals with application of the exclusion clause under Article 1Fc) of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees on terrorist suspects. This clause excludes persons, with respect to whom there are serious reasons for considering that he or she has been guilty of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. The article first analyses the notion of acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations and assesses its relation to the acts of terrorism. Then it turns to relevant issues of interpretation and application of the exclusion clause on terrorist suspects, particularly focusing on two dimensions of restrictive interpretation of the clause: (1) the character of acts to be subsumed under the exclusion clause in terms of their gravity and impact on international peace and security and (2) the position (ranking) of the person in relation to whom the exclusion clause may be applicable.