Collective deportation of Aghans this 16/11/2022 : A detainee informs us that there is a “special flight” tomorrow to deport Afghans to Austria . Three Afghans in closed centre 127 bis and several Afghans from other centres were placed in … Continuer la lecture
Archives du blog
Info meeting to join Getting the Voice Out on 25 september 2024
GVO is a Belgian collective (mainly based in Brussels) that fights against borders, against all forms of imprisonment, and for freedom of movement and settlement for all. We are fighting against detention centres. Under Belgian law, the purpose of detention … Continuer la lecture
A new case of death, this time at the Bruges detention centre: prisoners speak out
09 sptember 2024 A man of Georgian nationality, who arrived at the Bruges detention centre a week ago, had stopped eating for 5 days. The man suffered from diabetes and was not receiving adequate treatment. On 2 September, he collapsed … Continuer la lecture
Bedbugs in several detention centres : Merksplas, Bruges, 127 bis
20 JULY 2024 In the last few weeks, we have received many calls from several detention centres reporting bedbug infestations in bedrooms and living areas. According to the inmates, there is no overall strategy adopted by staff to eradicate this … Continuer la lecture
The terrifying flight AT-833 from Brussels to Casablanca
The story of a deportation [TW police violence] Five people, three men and two women, were deported on a commercial flight on 18 June 2024, escorted by 28 police officers. We had been warned that a Moroccan woman would be … Continuer la lecture
Expulsion without waiting, or how the Immigration Office does not bother with a court decision
23/04/2024 Mr B. is from Ethiopia and was arrested at Zaventem airport in December 2023. Following his arrest, he lodged an initial asylum application in Belgium, then a second one after he had obtained more information to support his … Continuer la lecture
Testimony of a violent expulsion by military flight (cargo)
Testimony of a violent expulsion by military flight (cargo) [TW police violence] Over the last few months, we have been in regular contact with a person of Djiboutian nationality who was detained at the Caricole detention centre for almost four … Continuer la lecture
Tuberculose in closed centre in Brugge
Inmates in a wing of Bruges detention centre warn us 22/03/2024 Detainees at the Bruges closed centre have informed us that one of their detainees was recently placed in medical isolation because he tested positive for tuberculosis. The person had … Continuer la lecture
Suicide at the 127bis detention centre: the inmates alert us in shock
The inmates of the 127bis detention centre (in Steenokkerzeel, close to Zaventem airport) have informed us that a man in his thirties, Mr A., took his own life on Saturday 9 March 2024. The man was of Ethiopian origin … Continuer la lecture
Audiotestimony : “There are some serious things waiting for me back home”.
Testimony given on 29/02/2024 by a man who has been in the Merksplas detention centre for almost 5 months. His first attempt to be deported was on Friday 01/03/2024 to Dakar, which he refused. Today, 04/03/2024, the office has extended … Continuer la lecture
The violence of Belgian migration policy and forced returns February 2024
According to reports from the Immigration Office, there were 2,918 forced returns in 2022. By November 2023, the number of forced returns had already risen to 3,097. For the moment we witness many attempted forced deportations that take place … Continuer la lecture
Growing tensions and testimonies of violence in total secrecy
On January 7, inmates at the 127bis detention center in Steenokkerzeel reported the death by hanging of one of their fellow inmates. The inmates were quickly transferred from one wing of the closed center to another, and the management is … Continuer la lecture
Testimonies of police violence at Zaventem and Charleroi airports
19 Décember 2023 We regularly receive testimonies of police violence during forced deportation attempts. Here are some testimonies we received in recent months: “6 officers: I was stripped naked and completely searched, I was handcuffed and given a large belt. … Continuer la lecture
Asylum seeker from Afghanistan threatened to be deported to Bulgaria: police violence and systemic violent practices as an integral part of the migration policy in Bulgaria.
The collective Getting the Voice Out condemns the arrestation and the previous attempt of deportation of a underage Afghan asylum seeker(who according to the Belgian Migration Office is of age. However the Office made this conclusion based on a research … Continuer la lecture
Liberté, freedom, حرية ! DEMONSTRATION against all closed centre 9 december 2023
This year, 2023, marks the 30th anniversary of the law on detention centres, prisons that deprive migrants of their freedom, where they are reduced to mere numbers and their basic humanity is ignored. Semira, killed 25 years ago during a … Continuer la lecture
Seven young men from Burundi national youth handball team are detained in a detention centre
Seven young men from Burundi national youth handball team are detained in a detention centre In August 2023, the Burundi national youth handball team travelled to Croatia to participate in the Men’s Youth World Handball Championship 2023. During … Continuer la lecture
General news from the closed centres and testimonies
01/11/2023 Double punishment & Dublin regulation The notion of “double punishment”, also known as “banishment”, refers to the process undergone by foreign nationals sentenced to a prison term who, at the end of their sentence, are then transferred … Continuer la lecture
A cascade of deportations: from hospital to airport
TW mutilation Mr M. underwent his third deportation attempt to Dakar on Saturday 7 October 2023. He has been in Belgium for 8 years and has now been locked up for over 9 months. M. is desperate: he has already … Continuer la lecture
The eviction machine works inexorably.
30 sptember 2023 “They have come to get a friend, ma’am”. “They have come to get an old man from Algeria”. “They have come to get Congolese men”. “They have come to get……..” “They have come to get…” “And soon … Continuer la lecture
Testimonies of prisoners subjected to DOUBLE SENTENCING and CALL FOR SUPPORT
15/09/2023 “I’ve served my sentence to the end. Why am I being punished a second time? Because I’m a foreigner? That’s discrimination.” The double penalty is part of the arsenal put in place by the Foreigners’ Office to punish those … Continuer la lecture
Frontex massdeportation to DRC from Brussels on 12 septembre 2023 : UPDATE
12/09/23 Collective deportation by Frontex (European border and coast guard agency) and the Belgian state: This morning we are receiving many calls from detainees from the 127bis detention centre in Steenokkerzeel confirming what was announced yesterday: a collective flight coordinated … Continuer la lecture
Serial roundups at Brussels-Midi station!
04/09/2023 : On top of the roundups announced by the state, arrests take place daily throughout Belgium, in stations, on public transport, criminalizing people who are trying to find their way in this migratory chaos. The social model of regularization … Continuer la lecture
Dublin Regulation: Belgium expels Angel, now in a closed centre in Sweden, facing persecution in Kenya because of her sexual orientation.
22/08/2023If you know anyone, collective or non-profit that can help Angel get out of detention center in Sweden and get the international protection, please contact us immediately. Context : Angel was forced to leave Kenya following a lesbophobic attack that led … Continuer la lecture
Call for Support for Richard
24/07/2023 : A short while ago, we reported on the alarming situation of Richard Ngaballa. Forced to flee Cameroon because of his homosexuality, he was refused for asylum by the Belgian government, which argued a lack of evidence of his … Continuer la lecture
Caricole – A Palestinian testifies on video from the detention center
UPDATE : Meneer met gefoceerd uitgezet op 19/07/2023 naar Istamboul. Siraj Al-Nanal is from Gaza, Palestine. He recently fled the war and violence he suffered in Palestine, and applied for asylum in Belgium. During his interview with the General Commissariat for … Continuer la lecture
Mediapart makes revelations about Tamazi’s death in the Merkplas detention centre
https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/160723/tamazi-mort-en-retention-le-combat-pour-la-verite-d-une-famille-de-refugies On 15 of February this year, Tamazi, a man of Georgian origin, died in the Merksplas detention centre. At the time, Getting the Voice Out reported on this tragedy, which raised many questions, even though the man had … Continuer la lecture
PRESS RELEASE: A gay man faces deportation to Cameroon , where he is threatened with imprisonment and death
17 July 2023 A gay man faces deportation to Cameroon , where he is threatened with imprisonment and death Several years ago, Richard left Cameroon to escape violence because of his homosexuality. He has been denied international protection in Belgium, … Continuer la lecture
The absurdity of the Dublin Regulation: The journey of a 67-year-old woman : Eritrea-Romania-Norway-Romania-Belgium-Romania.
11/07/2023She wanted to leave her country, Eritrea, to join her children and grandchildren living in Norway. On her way, she gave her fingerprints in Romania. When she arrived in Norway, the government decided to apply the Dublin regulation and detain … Continuer la lecture
Audio testimony about an illegal deportation 11/05/2023
AUDIO Testimony of Ms. Touria about her violent eviction: “Seven police officers to illegally evict me” (FR) AUDIO of Touria’s request for media coverage: “I want media” (FR) Transcription in Engl below Contextualisation of Ms. Touria’s situation Ms. Touria … Continuer la lecture
Charter deportation to DRC on 26 april 2023
On April 25 2023, fifteen Congolese detainees who had been held for several months in various closed centers were transferred to 127bis for collective deportation. The next day, eleven of these people were forcibly deported by military flight to … Continuer la lecture
Stop Deportation! Protest Camp” in Schönefeld from June 1-6 2023.!
At the Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, the government plans to build a massive deportation prison. Already now, mass deportations via charter flights silently take place there every month. We want to break the silence and are organizing the “Stop Deportation! Protest Camp” … Continuer la lecture
News from the detention centres: 6.03.2023 – 22.03.2023
– About ten days ago, several detainees reported a collective flight to the DRC. In the following days, contact with these people was very limited and several phones were on voice mail. – The social workers, also known as “accompaniers … Continuer la lecture
Collective deportation of 34 persons subject to the Dublin Regulation by military flight
The Foreign Office persists in an absurd, arbitrary and inhumane application of the Dublin Regulation by deporting thirty four people by military flight to Croatia. As a reminder, there is a European regulation called ‘Dublin’ which allows the determination of … Continuer la lecture
Testimonies : Living conditions in detention centres.
12/03/2023 Numerous testimonies have been received from the centres relating the violence of the staff and the inhumane conditions of detention. As a reminder, the objective of the detention centres is to place undocumented persons in detention in order … Continuer la lecture
News from the closed centres (from 20 February 2023 to 5 March 2023)
– Closed centre Merksplas. Several detainees reported that they were subjected to racism, especially by the “return assistants”. – Many people under Dublin regulation have been deported within 5 days of their arrest without being … Continuer la lecture
Death at Merksplas closed centre after hunger strike – 15/02/2023
Death at Merksplas closed centre after hunger strike – 15/02/2023 This morning,February 15, 2023, we received several calls from detainees informing us of the death of a person at the Merkplas detention centre. This 40 year old Georgian man … Continuer la lecture
Belgium deports to Croatia, targeted for numerous acts of violence against migrants.
In the framework of the Dublin procedure, several people locked up in a detention centre have been expelled to Croatia, where they had already been subjected to serious acts of violence. Others are likely to be deported in the coming … Continuer la lecture
Audiotestimony : Twenty five days of hunger strike: “In Brussels, where are the human rights? “06/02/2023 Update
Update : Free on 09/02/2023 He is 44 years old. Originally from Tunisia, he has been living in Belgium for 12 years. On 13 December he was placed in a detention centre following a police check in Stalingrad. He had built … Continuer la lecture
Closed centre in Vottem ( Liège ) : Words of the direction (FR).
Retour de la visite des délégations au CIV le 24/12/2023. CRACPE: Collectif de Résistance Aux Centres Pour Etrangers. Site : www.cracpe.be Chaque année nous nous rassemblons devant le centre fermé de Vottem le 24 décembre. Il s’agit, comme à chacune … Continuer la lecture
Collecting phones for detainees in closed centres and calling for rechargers
Collecting phones for detainees in closed centres Detainees in closed centers are provided with a small telephone (without camera) to contact their relatives, lawyers or other services. The telephone was lent to them by the administration of the closed centres. … Continuer la lecture
Collective deportation flight to the DRC on 14/11/2022
The ‘Office des Étangers’, in collaboration with the Frontex agency, has organised a special flight for 14 Congolese whose application for international protection has not been granted, 8 of whom are locked up in Belgian detention centres. https://afrique.lalibre.be/73630/belgique-un-vol-special-pour-rapatrier-14-congolais-deboutes-dune-demande-dasile/ This new … Continuer la lecture
Repression in the closed centre
Op 7/11 ontvingen we een getuigenis van een gevangene in Merksplas. Federale politieagenten gingen het centrum binnen om een gedetineerde uit te zetten. Een getuigenis die veel zegt over de technieken en repressie die gebruikt worden om de gevangenen te … Continuer la lecture
Asylum seeker on hunger strike at Caricole deported . Strengthening of Dublin procedures are already making victims.
Osman (not his real name) is an Alevi Kurd and has been on hunger strike for two weeks in the Caricole detention centre near Brussels. He refuses to be sent back to Poland and to be one of … Continuer la lecture
Escape from the Caricole detention centre in Steenokkerzeel
Five inmates escaped from the detention centre on 04/10/2022 The Caricole centre is one of the detention centres set up by the Belgian state. Its function is to detain people arrested at airports and borders. These include people who were visiting … Continuer la lecture
HELP
Hello everyone,As you know, GVO fights against detention centres by bringing out the testimonies of detainees and by preventing the deportations .Thanks to the contacts with the detainees and by bringing out the testimonies, we can highlight the existence of … Continuer la lecture
Arrestaties en deportaties aan de lopende band – 02/08/2022
The closed centres continue to fill up. They are arrested in the street, on public transport, in airports, at home, at the Foreigners Office, in open centres. Sometimes they are also transferred directly from a prison. … Continuer la lecture
8-14 August: International No Border Camp in Rotterdam: ‘Abolish Frontex’
’ Press release – No Border Camp 2022 Press release – No Border Camp 2022 3 August 2022 – From Monday 8 to Sunday 14 August the No Border Camp 2022 will take place in Rotterdam. Hundreds of international activists … Continuer la lecture
Audio testimony Mei 2022 : Deportation to Togo: Brussels airlines makes a stop at the Caricole
AUDIO here (FR) G. Was arrested at the airport and taken to the Caricole. He is 17 years old and has been regarded as an adult after a bone test. Tests whose credibility is unreliable as it is based on … Continuer la lecture
Testimony received: Afghan woman in a closed centre
Received from a visitor this 01/06/2022 Ms MS is Afghan. She was detained in the women’s detention centre in Holsbeek from 8 April 2022 to 24 May 2022, i.e. one and a half months. Her husband is Belgian and has … Continuer la lecture
ABOLISH FRONTEX
ABOLISH FRONTEX : https://fr.abolishfrontex.org/
12 years old and in closed centre ! 16/04/2022
Another move by the Office of Shame!Three children spent a night in a police cell, then transferred to a detention centre, two 12 year old girls to the detention centre of Holsbeek and a 10 year old boy to the … Continuer la lecture
Forced evictions in closed centres: what detainees say
05/03/2022Holsbeek, closed centre for women: “We live in total stress: we don’t know when they are coming to get us to expel us.” “We don’t get a ticket anymore. They suddenly come and kidnap us.” “They put us aside in … Continuer la lecture
Minors in detention centres
31/03/2022 S, Algerian born in 2006, 16 years old, travelled across Europe for a year, looking for a place to live. He travelled from country to country (Spain, Germany, France, the Netherlands) to end up in a … Continuer la lecture
Attempt of a forced deportation of a 55-year-old women to Abidjan this Saturday, 19 March 2022.
On Friday 18/03/2022 at noon, she was kidnapped by security agents and the police, without any warning. Her lawyer was denied the right to see her. On 24/11/2021 she was arrested at Zaventem airport, while on transit to Canada with … Continuer la lecture
Search notice 17/03/2022
This Sunday 13/03, eight “migrants”, probably of Sudanese origin, were taken away by the federal police from a camp in the Arlon/Luxembourg region. Today 17/03/2022 they remain untraceable despite our searches. Presumably, none of them has been able … Continuer la lecture
URGENT : STATE ASSASSINAT : New eviction this 10/03/2022
The man who had undergone an expulsion whose video was running https://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/video-deportation-echouee/ was brought to an isolation cell again this 09/03/2022. He is in a wheelchair disabled by the mistreatment he suffered during the previous eviction. He is in this … Continuer la lecture
Let’s stop a 6th deportation attempt by Brussels Airlines to Benin on 10 March 2022
She arrived on 25/06/2021 from Cotonou hoping to apply for asylum.She was arrested by the aeronautical police at Zaventem airport, considering her application suspicious.She was placed in a closed centre in Holsbeek, then in Bruges.An employee at the CGRA service … Continuer la lecture
Sixth expulsion attempt this 26/02/2022 – From forced marriage to expulsion: a new Semira? UPDATE
Update 28/02/2022 : The young girl, despite the fact that her expulsion got cancelled by the council, was nevertheless expelled with to Bening with an escort. Activists were present at the airport of Zaventem to warn passengers of her situation. … Continuer la lecture
Forced eviction on 25/02/22 to Dakar
Forced eviction on 25/02/22 to Dakar A person with whom we have been in contact, locked up in 127 bis, has informed us that this morning she received a ticket to her country of origin, Senegal. This person has been … Continuer la lecture
AUDIO 127 bis. A detainee witnesses the cruelty and absurdity of the international protection system, the living conditions in the centres and the violence of forced expulsions. 13/02/2022
“Hello, I wanted to explain the things we go through here in this centre. The majority of the people who are here we all came, we fled either… there are people who fled death, people who fled abuse. Everybody has … Continuer la lecture
AudioTestimony: detention in the “special wing” of the closed center of Vottem. .
AudioTestimony: detention in the “special wing” of the closed center of Vottem. 25/01/2022 A detainee recently contacted us to tell us about his detention in the “special wing” of the center of Vottem. This place is distinct from the “cachots”. … Continuer la lecture
F. a person of Moroccan origin with a mental disability, deported alone to Turkey
The family and their lawyer are going to ask for a return visa for F. in court on 19/01/2022.If you want to support the family in court, come to the court this 19/01/2022 at 8.30 am in Rue des Quatre-Bras … Continuer la lecture
Let’s prevent a forced deportation this Wednesday 12 January 2022
Let’s prevent a forced deportation this Wednesday 12 January 2022 Mr. S. will be expelled this 12/01/2022 to his “country of origin”, Macedonia He has applied for asylum which has been refused by the CGRA. He confirms … Continuer la lecture
VIDEO 2022 : Solidarity action in Coquelles (Calais)
On Sunday, January 2, 2022, people decided to start the year with an action in support of the prisoners of the Administrative Detention Center (CRA) of Coquelles, near Calais. They went there and made noise and shouted slogans for the … Continuer la lecture
Help ! 3rd attempt of expulsion this 24/12/2021 towards IRAN : update
Update 26/12/2021: he was taken to the airport and then his escort was ordered not to put him on the plane…. he was taken back to a cachot but does not know in which centre. He tells us 100 times … Continuer la lecture
Audio : “I have the right to go out, I have two children in my name, I am married to a Belgian woman, I don’t know what to do.”
At the beginning of the Coronavirus crisis, many people who do not have Belgian nationality, but a residence permit in Belgium or people with two nationalities were stuck abroad without the possibility of reaching their country of residence. The Belgian … Continuer la lecture
State racism of the Foreigners Office and the CGVS 01/12/2021
State racism of the Foreigners’ Office and the CGRA 01/12/2021 In the last few days we have received several desperate calls from the women’s detention centre in Holsbeek All of them come from the DRC. They all arrived in September … Continuer la lecture
Let’s stop a forced deportation to Morocco! 09/11/2021
DEPORTATION CANCELED Let’s stop a forced deportation to Morocco! The man we are in contact with and who is about to be deported has been in Europe since 2010. He applied for asylum in Germany in 2014. In Belgium he did … Continuer la lecture
Deportation with police escort Brussels Airlines flight SN 299 to Cotonou scheduled for 1 November 2021 at 11.05 am. : not deported
UPDATE 01/11/2021: He was taken to the airport. Activists were present to talk to the passengers. In the offices of the federal police several agents in civilian clothes were waiting; Then without explanations Mr. was brought back to the centre … Continuer la lecture
Border police: arbitrary and racist arrests 30/09/2021
Border police: arbitrary and racist arrests 30/09/2021 In the last few days, we have been contacted daily by people arrested at the airport. They call us via the central office of a centre or from a phone at … Continuer la lecture
Attempted deportation on a FRONTEX flight on 21/09/2021
Attempted deportation on a FRONTEX flight on 21/09/2021 We have already published several reports about one of our contacts who is currently detained in the closed centre of Vottem. Previous calls here Originally from Nigeria, he says he is a … Continuer la lecture
Info meeting Gettingthevoiceout 23/09/2021
Rendez vous/afspraak/ meeting 19 h 35 Rue van Elewijck 1050 bruxelles ( Flagey ) – FR/NL/ENGL Jeudi 23 septembre, Getting The Voice Out vous invite à une soirée pour se rencontrer et faire découvrir le collectif à celles et ceux … Continuer la lecture
Known placements in detention centres, from the weekend 30/08/2021
Known placements in detention centres, from the weekend 30/08/2021 He has Spanish nationality for 10 years, of Moroccan origin. He was arrested in Ghent and taken to the DC because he did not have his papers on him. He is … Continuer la lecture
Borders kill : Belgium 2017- 29/07/2021
He was walking on a dimly lit road hoping to find the light at the end of the road in Arlon. His name was Hassan and he was 60 years old. He was hit by a car on the way … Continuer la lecture
When the Grand-Ducal police beat and rob migrants
When the Grand-Ducal police beat and rob migrants04/08/2021 We have received a disturbing testimony, showing once again that the abuse of power – and this is a euphemism, speaking of fascization seems more appropriate – is not uncommon among the … Continuer la lecture
And it goes on and on. The sadism of the Immigration Office.
.After the arrestation of M.B.A. https://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/detained-and-soon-to-be-expelled-after-50-years-of-legal-residence-in-belgium/, again arrestation of a man 61 year old Since 30 June, Mr K.H. has been detained in the Caricole detention centre. He is Moroccan, 61 years old and has been legally resident in Belgium … Continuer la lecture
Testimony forced deportation :” How could Belgium be so mean? Or maybe it was an individual or governmental wickedness ».
After our article about Outrageous practices at the closed centre 127 bis in Steenokkerzeel.https://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/outrageous-practices-at-the-closed-centre-127-bis-in-steenokkerzeel-27- Testimony : Shortly after being forcibly deported to Nigeria, a former detainee of 127bis wanted to share with one of our activists the … Continuer la lecture
Outrageous practices at the closed centre 127 bis in Steenokkerzeel. 27/06/2021
A detainee with whom we are in contact told us that, recently, several detainees from different countries had been asked to come to the social worker’s office without being informed of the reason for their summons. Once in the office, … Continuer la lecture
Detained and soon to be expelled after 50 years of legal residence in Belgium.
. 26/06/2021 Mr M.B.A. is Moroccan. He arrived in Belgium 50 years ago, at the age of 13 with his parents. He has always lived in Belgium with his whole family. He got married, had a child, got divorced… … Continuer la lecture
Attempted deportation on a FRONTEX charter flight on 26/05/2021
Attempted deportation on a FRONTEX charter flight on 26/05/2021 Nigerian national, he fled his country via Benin to find refuge in Belgium. He tells us that he is a member of a political opposition movement and is wanted by the … Continuer la lecture
COVID in closed centre in Vottem
Press Release 18/05/2021 Based on our information, several cases of coronavirus have been detected at the closed centre for foreigners in Vottem. To date, there are 4 persons with the virus among the retained, and 8 among the staff. « Outside … Continuer la lecture
ALERT: Forced eviction imminent on 03/04/2021: Deportation postponed
Update 04/04/2021 Yesterday afternoon, our contact was transported to the airport for deportation. After he said to the police officers that he was in danger of death if he was deported, he was taken back to 127 bis. However, the … Continuer la lecture
Roundup in Waremme: when the municipality collaborates with the police
23/03/2021: A roundup was organised in a camp in Waremme (a hospital municipality!) in collaboration with the local and federal police.Mainstream media : Waremme Réfugiés incivils à Oreye: «Un phénomène assez nouveau» They were all taken to the police station … Continuer la lecture
February 2021 – Continuation of double penalties and newcomers on their way!
Since our last publication about the situation ( here), nothing new for the persons concerned with ‘double penalties’. They are the same ‘double penalties’ who are waiting, but they no longer know what they are waiting for. They are being … Continuer la lecture
Testimony, January 2021 : “It is very harsh for me and the kids too”
He would rather remain anonymous, and has been in a detention center for 7 months. His daughter could but once visit him. He was keen to testify about his pain of being separated from his family and about the sanitary … Continuer la lecture
FR: Urgent ! Covid : situation hors de contrôle dans le CRA de Vincennes (fr)
30/01/2020 :Ce midi, au déjeuner, les policiers au contact des sans-papiers du CRA de Vincennes ont tous revêtu des combinaisons intégrales de protection. Depuis ce soir, les sans-papiers n’ont plus accès au réfectoire. Des gamelles sont distribuées dans les chambres. … Continuer la lecture
Two little children and in closed centre
17/01/2021 Mr T is in the closed centre and have his belgian wooman and two little children outside. He want to give his testimony : “I find it inconceivable“ Audio testimony here (FR) ————————————————————————————————————————- Transcription of the testimony I … Continuer la lecture
Three testimonys from closed center in Brugge 15/12/2020
After numerous infections of the COVID-19 virus among the staff (36!) as well as the people detained in the closed centre of Bruges, we received several phone calls from detainees who were worried about the situation. They have now been … Continuer la lecture
COLLECTIVE TRIBUTE TO MOHAMED KHAMISSE ZACHARIA:
https://calaismigrantsolidarity.wordpress.com/ THE END OF A DREAM On November 19, 2020, on the A16, a young 20-year-old Sudanese lost his life and all his dreams. He was our compatriot, our brother, our friend. Mohamed died hit by a car while he … Continuer la lecture
“If you died here, no one would ever know”
Jasmin Gushani 20/11/2020 His arrest On 30 September 2020, we received a phone call from Jasmin Gushani, detained since 21 August 2020 for several months in the 127bis after being arrested one day when he was not … Continuer la lecture
Deportation of ‘Dublin’ exiles to Belgium
14/11/2020: At Brussels airport on 10 November 2020, we welcomed five so-called ‘Dublin’ exiles of different nationalities, deported to Belgium through France and Great Britain. The three exiles coming from Great Britain had been arrested by the police in their … Continuer la lecture
Legal victory against ‘illegal’ deportations 2020
” The Belgian State has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for its inhuman migratory policy. “ In 2017, several Sudanese were retained in our closed centres and several were illegally deported to their “country of origin”. … Continuer la lecture
Collective deportation “Dublin” from Great Britain to Belgium this 22/1O/2020
UPDATE 21/10/2020 21H30: départ 22/1O Stansted airport 8.45 am, arrived Brussels airport 9.45 am: Great Britain sent back migrants by charter to their country “Dublin” in Europe.It is still in the process of doing so.Several charters have already been organized … Continuer la lecture
Border Securitisation in the Channel / La sécurisation de la frontière dans la Manche (ENGL, Fr)
A traduire en en_uk : Border Securitisation in the Channel / La sécurisation de la frontière dans la Manche (ENGL, Fr) yerman, T., and van Isacker, T. (2020). Border Securitisation in the Channel. Available at: https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/research-subject-groups/centre-criminology/centreborder-criminologies/blog/2020/10/border T he following is a translation … Continuer la lecture
Closed centres – October 2020: words by retainees and call for phone recharges
Despite the limited occupation in closed centres, tensions are high: fight among retainees, repression and racism by the staff, police intervention, confinement, transfers, suffering, rebellion, etc. Most of the retainees are ‘double penalties’ but besides, asylum seekers are arrested in … Continuer la lecture
Situation in the closed centres – 21 September 2020 “No one is illegal, neither am I”
General situation: Ongoing repression and sufferings. Countless confinements, suicide attempts and transfers in all the centres. Also a lot of extremely rapid deportations to countries of Eastern Europe. Mainly Moroccans and Algerians currently in closed centres for several months, … Continuer la lecture
Charter “Channelmigrants” to Europe
30/08/2020 Dossier on the new wave of charter flights to France, Germany and Spain deporting people who have crossed the channel in small boats. The next flight is planned for 3 September. Compiled by Calais Migrant Solidarity, Corporate Watch and … Continuer la lecture
Not only is the victim suffocated, but the events are suppressed as well. Immediate resignation of the current Minister of the Interior. Stop police violence. Stop impunity.
The broadcast – as sudden as it was unexpected – of the shocking images of the acts of violence, even torture, inflicted by the police on Jozef Chovanec in February 2018 at Charleroi airport remind us of the murders of … Continuer la lecture
What to do in the event of being arrested in Belgium 11/08/2020
Many migrants wishing to settle in Great Britain have arrived safely in recent weeks (several hundred per week). Many of the camps in the Pas de Calais area have been dismantled, which has pushed migrants to cross the Channel with … Continuer la lecture
Detention and pressure versus solidarity and resistance in the Detention Centres for Migrants.
29/07/2020 : Less than 200 people are kept in Detention Centres for Migrants, which have places for up to 600; the Detention Centres are applying the Covid measurest. They have been kept in these Centres for several months, some … Continuer la lecture
Stop deportations: Campaign
27/07/2020 A new campaign has been launched in Germany to push Lufhtansa to stop all deportations ! “The alliance calls on Lufthansa to take a clear position against racism and to stop transporting people against their will. More than 20 … Continuer la lecture
Double penalty or banishment : a peculiar method of racism!
20/06/2020 A great part of the retainees in closed centres are actually former prisonners to whom documents were withdrawn following a condemnation for infringement to public policy or for a minor offence (speeding, unpaid fines, etc.). They are picked up … Continuer la lecture
Get in touch and support us
This site is dedicated to hear testimonies by people retained, ill-treated and deported each year from closed centres in Belgium and make fights against borders and closed centres visible – especially these people who are within these arbitrary retention places … Continuer la lecture
Saved just in time, a young Syrian girl escapes the Belgian authorities’ push back
08/05/2020 Right in the middle of a world sanitary crisis, Belgium tried to cross a new boundary in its migratory policy. The first ‘push back’ ever recorded on the Belgian territory should have taken place Friday 8 May a.m. E. … Continuer la lecture
Words by a retainee in the closed centre in Bruges
27/04/2020 SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THIS CENTRE MUST BE SHUT DOWN. Testimony « There are 120 places in the closed centre. Most of the prisoners have been released. Many had a legal record. We are still 15. And there are … Continuer la lecture
Escape attempt in Merksplas and news from Bruges
23 April 2020 MERKSPLAS Since the publication by RTBF on 9 April 2020 of the article « Nourriture avariée, cachot pour les malades, distanciation pas respectée : le quotidien dans un centre fermé au temps du coronavirus » (Rotten food, … Continuer la lecture
Forgotten of the Covid-19: A group of undocumented people demand immediate regularization
Video action and repression Photos of the action This Monday, April 20 at 11 a.m., a group of undocumented people, the forgotten ones of this period of COVID-19 crisis, carried out a sharp- action fought in front of the Tower … Continuer la lecture
Audiotestimony from closed centre in Bruges “Our fate is between your hands” 08/04/2019
Audiotestimony from closed centre in Bruges “Our fate is between your hands” 08/04/2019 Listen here (Fr) “I am in the Bruges detention center since March 30th 2020. Since I have arrived here, I can’t buy shampoo, … Continuer la lecture
LET’S EMPTY THE CLOSED CENTRES
23/03/2020 The Foreigners Office refuse asylum requests but continue to deport. On 16 March 2020, the day before the confinement, two Guineans were deported to Conakry. An Ethiopian had to go through a thrid deportation attempt on 19 March 2020. … Continuer la lecture
In case of retention. Update 07 March 2020
When retained in a closed centre, it is important to very rapidly address a lawyer (without blindly accepting one suggested by the centre). Indeed, during their retention, some get an Order to Leave the Territory against which lawyers … Continuer la lecture
Sea safety Channel 02/03/2020
Hello all. Seeing weather conditions crossings have not been many in the past month or so. Yet, this also means more people waiting for crossing this way adding up and potentially bigger wave of crossings in a week or two, … Continuer la lecture
France : Prisonners fight 22/01/2020
Communiqué du 22 janvier 2020 des prisonniers de Oissel en lutte The prison for foreigners in Oissel (near Rouen) is known for its violent and racist practices, its administration suppressing all resistance movements. In this prison, solitary confinement is regularly … Continuer la lecture
Frontex deportation to Guinea: 20/01/2020
20/01./2020 We learnt that Guineans were taken away from the Vottem closed centre and transferred to the isolation cell of the 127bis centre. They were promised a forced military flight in the evening. Then we heard that they would be … Continuer la lecture
Borders kill 21/12/2019
List of the known exiles who passed through Belgium and were killed by borders since July 2017 TRIBUTE TO: 2017 : -Omar, 18, Sudanese, died under a bus in Brussels on 23 July 2017 -Dejen, 16, Ethiopian, died in … Continuer la lecture
films and video of actions
Resitance against a deprtation to Somalie 02/12/2019 Geplaatst door Nathalie Mercenier op Maandag 2 december 2019 Aktion against closed centre for women in Holsbeek 02/12/2019 https://zintv.org/Holsbeek-prison-pour-innocentes Steenokkerzeel/127bis 20/06/2018 agaginst detention families If you have ideas … Continuer la lecture
October 25 2019 ALL THAT’S MISSING IS THE CUSHION ! NO MORE STATE MURDERS!
October 25 2019 ALL THAT’S MISSING IS THE CUSHION ! NO MORE STATE MURDERS! Different sources told us about brutal and inhuman treatment inflicted on at least two women by airport police during attempted deportations. We visited the Holsbeek … Continuer la lecture
I was tortured yesterday by the Belgian police 22/10/2019
Testimony after a deportation attempt of a women: http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/2nd-deportation-attempt-with-police-escort-this-monday-21102019-on-sn-airlines/ audio here (engl) I was tortured yesterday by the Belgian police on a SN Brussels (Airlines) plane at 11. They kept my head on the seat. It was 4 policemen with … Continuer la lecture
Killed by borders: 39+1 more : 24/10/2018
List of the known exiles who passed through Belgium and were killed by borders since July 2017 TRIBUTE TO: 2017 : -Omar, 18, Sudanese, died under a bus in Brussels on 23 July 2017 -Dejen, 16, Ethiopian, died in … Continuer la lecture
2nd deportation attempt with police escort this Monday 21/10/2019 on SN AIRLINES
Update 22/10/2019: She was tied up, hit, and the captain was alerted by a passenger who gave the order to get her out of the plane. She came back to the centre, bruised and revolted. Thank you to all those … Continuer la lecture
Belgium deports to Ethiopia. Let’s prevent the returns to death, misery : sign the petition.
Belgium deports to Ethiopia. Let’s prevent the returns to death, misery : sign the petition. PETITION HERE in Fr, Nl Let’s rapidly send a maximum of messages to the addresses below in order to help them. #passagerduvoleth729 #eth729 Monsieur Grum … Continuer la lecture
What to do in case of imprisonment: Update 1 October 2019
For several weeks, the referents of the Citizens’ Platform and Gettingthevoiceout have received far less notifications of imprisonment. However, we still hear about regular raids in ports, cities and train stations. The situation in the centres: Very few retainees still … Continuer la lecture
Carte blanche against the banalisation of the FRONTEX military agency by the RTBF (Fr)
We were several to react about the publication of the RTBF which, without journalistic analysing nor scruple, made a propagandist portrait of Frontex, our European army which protects “our” borders against migrations! as such Frontex kills, locks up, deports. (see … Continuer la lecture
Alert! Razzia’s on 09/09/2019 in West Flanders
ATTENTION, CAREFUL!!!! Major raffle operation this 09/09/2019 in West Vlaanderen! From a trustworthy source we learn that a raffle operation with drone, dogs, cavalry, and all the holy tremor, is being organized for this coming 09/09/2019 in the province West … Continuer la lecture
Helping about arrestations 07/09/2019 FR, NL, ENGL, OROMO
07/09/2019 Engl, nl, oromo below AU SECOURS -Beaucoup d’arrestations ces jours lors de rafles -Gros arrivage au centre fermé 127 bis -Des assistants sociaux qui mettent la pression pour que les nouveaux arrivés ne préviennent pas et ne prennent pas … Continuer la lecture
Prevent a third deportation attempt with escort to Romania 26/08/2019: Update
Update 27/08/2019: He again resisted and was brought back and put in isolation in the secure wing of the closed center of Vottem. It is still his co-detainees in Bruges who informed us and the information has been confirmed. We … Continuer la lecture
Repeated deportations ! 19/08/2019
Repeated deportations ! S arrives in Italy and is sent to Switzerland as part of the European resettlement plan. His asylum application in Switzerland has been rejected. He continues his way to Belgium. On his way to inquire about a … Continuer la lecture
Solidarity in the closed centre 05/08/2019
To all of you who assist migrants or undocumented people: Remind them that the risks of confinement exist, that the closed center is a step in a process towards deportation. http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/detention-centres/what-are-closed-centres/ There are procedures that allow for release but they … Continuer la lecture
ALERT: Frontex Deportation flight from Frankfurt to Lagos ( Nigeria) on 19/08/2019
ALERT: A Frontex deportation flight from Frankfurt to Lagos ( Nigeria) on 19/08/2019 Nigerians from other European countries can be brought to Franfurt to place them on this flight; Inform your Nigerian friends! Frontex : « Unknown to most Europeans a … Continuer la lecture
Audio : Three asylum requests refused: If Belgium send me back to Ethiopie, my live is finished
03/08/2019: Many migrants from Ethiopia and Erithrea, trapped in our detention centers, are threatened with deportation to Ethiopia; T is one of them T has been in a detention center since February 2019. He made 3 asylum requests from the … Continuer la lecture
Let us prevent a second deportationattempt to Somalia on 17/07/2019 . deportation avoideded
Update 21/07/2019: A has returned on 19/07/2019 and is currently isolated (cachot) in the closed centre 127 bis. He was mistreated by his escort and the passengers in Istambul of the Turkish Airlines flight to Djibouti have resisted his deportation. … Continuer la lecture
Cry for help from a closed centre- July 2019…No to the double penalty : Update 28/07/2019
Update 28/07 2019:”They want to break me and my family in pieces”, “My children will suffer the consequences”. M. is at his wit’s end, certain that the Immigration Office is persecuting him while his 2 children and his young partner … Continuer la lecture
Death at the border of an exile based in Belgium- 8 July 2019
Death at the border of an exile based in Belgium- 8 July 2019 They were eight people, 4 women and 4 men, of Erythrean origin, in a truck driving through Bruges to go to Rotterdam this Saturday 6 July 2019. … Continuer la lecture
CHILDREN ARE NOT TO BE LOCKED THAT’S ALL. REALLY??
03/07/2019 CHILDREN ARE NOT TO BE LOCKED THAT’S ALL. REALLY??? For several weeks, young people, sometimes very young, are being arrested on their migratory road in Belgium and retained in closed centres. ‘He has no hair on his chin, Madam’, … Continuer la lecture
In exile: An overview and news 28/05/2019
In exile: An overview and news 28/05/2019 It has been one year since we have been collecting the phone calls from hosts about the arrest and imprisonment of their/our guests in closed centres. An annual overview: (partial) numbers based on … Continuer la lecture
Refugees detention 10/05/2019
10/05/2019: Many arrests this week: Willebroek, Zeebrugge, Tournai, Kortrijk, Gare du Nord in Brussels … Some are released after identification and issuance of an « order to leave the territory » (OQT), others are maintained in closed centers. The undisclosed … Continuer la lecture
About the abomination of closed centres: Audiotestimony from the Caricole closed centre 03/05/2019
Testimony from the Caricole closed centre: about the abomination of closed centres 03/05/2019 audio here(FR°) I’m in Belgium since 18 April 2019, I came here with a short-term visa, 20 days, which was deliverd to me by the Belgian embassy. … Continuer la lecture
Deportation to Ivory Coast on 02/05/2019: Mobilisation! Update
UPDATE: flight via CASABLANCA and Abidjan , thirsday 2 May 6.30 pm : AT833 et SN 4055 Royal Air Maroc et Brussels Airlines) ——————————————————————————————————————————– Deportation to Ivory Coast on 02/05/2019: Mobilisation! Mr O.C, from the Ivory Coast, is currently being … Continuer la lecture
3rd deportation attempt to Sri Lanka on 25 April 2019
Mr S, Tamil from Sri Lanka, came to Belgium to request asylum. He was arrested at the airport several months ago. His asylum request was refused and he’ll be subject to a third deportation attempt to Ghana (!) this 25th … Continuer la lecture
Status of the badly named ‘transmigrants’ in closed centres [05/04/2019]
Status of the badly named ‘transmigrants’ in closed centres [05/04/2019] We were again informed that several social assistants in closed centres use their influence to dissuade retainees to sign the handling by lawyers, promising them a rapid release if they … Continuer la lecture
Stop the third attempt to deport a Sri Lankan!
Stop the third attempt to deport a Sri Lankan! Mr. P. is a young man who just turned 26 two weeks ago. He is from Sri Lanka, a country he doesn’t want to go to anymore. “In Sri Lanka, my … Continuer la lecture
Grouped deportation flight to Guinea, DRC and Senegal this Tuesday 26 March 2019
Grouped deportation flight to Guinea, DRC and Senegal this Tuesday 26 March 2019 Several people retained in the different closed centres are warning us that they will be put on a ‘special flight’ to be deported to their countries of … Continuer la lecture
Let’s prevent a second deportation attempt to Congo-Brazzaville
21/03/2019 Call from the CRACPE in Vottem: Mr B, from Congo Brazza has been retained in the closed centre of Vottem for several months. He will be subject to a second deportation attempt this Friday 22 March. Mr had been … Continuer la lecture
Palestinians’ hunt and group deportation to Spain on 19 March 2019
15/03/2019: Since the end of January, Palestinian asylum-seekers and residents in open centre have been arrested in the Foreigners office (during an appointment) and they are bein retained in a closed centre in view of their deportation. The received the … Continuer la lecture
Two Testimonies by deported people 11/03/2019
Two Testimonies by deported people: February 2019: B., sent to Caricole, directly from the airport in October 2018, stayed 3 months in the centre. He tells us about the inaction of the social services, “the people” here, they stay 4, … Continuer la lecture
Audio testimony from the Vottem closed centre and call from the Voix des Sans-Papiers (VSP) in Brussels
06/03/2019: Call from the Voix des Sans-Papiers (VSP) in Brussels: One of our friends, Diallo Ahmad Bilo, was arrested on 25 December close to the North Station and transferred to Vottem. Since 11 February he had stomach pains and asked … Continuer la lecture
Second deportation attempt to Ghana on Mrs T, this Freiday 15 February 2019
Second deportation attempt to Ghana on Mrs T, this Freiday 15 February 2019 Flight SN277 Zaventem 15/02/2019 11:10 to Accra 15/02/2019 16:55 Mrs T. has been retained in the Bruges closed centre since 30 December 2018. She wanted to catch … Continuer la lecture
At least 100 arrests on our migratory roads, Within 8 days and 50 retentions in our closed centres
Between 4 and 11 January 2019 (8 days), at least 100 migrants were arrested in Zeebruges, Antwerp, on parking places or in trucks, on trains (even though they had train tickets), mainly on the way to the coast. Fifty of … Continuer la lecture
The Foreigners Office want to deport at all costs
17/12/2018: The merry-go-round of retentions/releases of the exiles caught in train stations and parkings all over the country goes on. In November only, 73 arrests have been reported by hosts. Sixty were released in the following days, generally thanks to … Continuer la lecture
GB: The Stansted15 have been convicted under terror-related legislation
Today the #Stansted15 were found guilty in Chelmsford Crown Court. In a statement they said: “We are guilty of nothing more than intervening to prevent harm. The real crime is the government’s cowardly, inhumane and barely legal deportation flights and … Continuer la lecture
Story of a raid in Arlon on 14 November 2018
Picture of a retainee once released and remark by his host: “They released him giving him the direction of the train station, without documents’. He arrived like this, with two numbers around his wrist (one from the police, the other … Continuer la lecture
Action against a deportationattempt to Afghanistan on 26/11/1018
Update 27/11/2018: M was deported. We don’t have news from him. Two of the persons present at the airport were arrested by the police as soon as they arrived and kept at the police station for an hour, while the … Continuer la lecture
Closed centres: two testimonies written by hosts
Friday 2 November 2018. H calls me … He has been retained in Vottem since 23 August « I am not well…; they gave me another room, I am with another man; we are only allowed one hour outside, we … Continuer la lecture
October 2018 : Exiles are being harassed
One may witness a real harassment of the exiles who are arrested in public spaces, transports, stations, and parkings. They are driven to the police station or the identification centre in Steenokkerzeel, most of them are retained for a few … Continuer la lecture
Urgent: third forced deportation attempt after an abuse of the Foreigners Office irregularities
Mrs K, Rwandese, retained in the Caricole closed centre for more than 3 months, is in great danger in her country because she is accused of complicity in the conflict between Rwanda and Burundi. Why? Because her comapnion, the father … Continuer la lecture
Deported with escort to Ethiopia as of the first attempt on 23 October 2018
Deported with escort to Ethiopia as of the first attempt on 23 October 2018 M., Ethiopian, was arrested on 23 April 2018 and retained in Merksplas closed centre. He had introduced an asylum request but it was refused. After having … Continuer la lecture
Some scheming by the Immigration Office: 21/10/2018 and testimony
A reminder to hosts and visitors of the closed centre: When peopole who are undocumented or in exile disappear or are arrested during one of several raids, it takes 24 to 48 hours to know whether the Immigration office has … Continuer la lecture
Suicide in closed centre in Vottem: : Gathering on 13/10 2018 : Update
Update 10/10/2018 Mr Gebre Mariam, who committed suicide at the Vottem closed centre on 9 October 2018 had obtained asylum in Bulgaria. He had been threatened with an axe there and absolutely didn’t want to go back to that country. … Continuer la lecture
Third Deportation to Ruanda on 29/09/2018 : Annulation of the deportation!
Update 28/09/2018: The court annulate the deportation and she is free! ————————————————————————————————————— H., Rwandan, will be deported for the third time this Saturday 29/09. She is waiting for decisions by three different courts but the Foreigners Office absolutely want to … Continuer la lecture
Update 27/09/2018 / worth reading if one of your friendshas been arrested
Update 27/09/2018 / WORTH READING IF ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS HAS BEEN ARRESTED Arrests have been happening at a fast pace lately. They are being arrested by dozens, night and day. We count a lot of releases too. It is … Continuer la lecture
Illegal Deportation of a man from guinee to Marocco; Update:Deportated and in jail d in prison!
Update 23/09/2018: Mr S was deported with escort on 22 September 2018. He was arrested in Morocco for illegal migration. He is in jail. We dare not imagine how he was deported and how are his imprisonment conditions in Morocco! … Continuer la lecture
In Belgium too people die on migratory routes 14/09/2018
Repression, arrests, mistreatments, racketeering, deportations: these are part of the current messages on FB and elsewhere Forgetting the dead. Migrants’ hunting, be it by the police forces or by smugglers, the desperate acts of migrants to flee this repression and … Continuer la lecture
When the hell are we going to act? Tortures, deportations, repression.
Tortures at the 127bis closed centre On 23/08/2018 H had an argument with a guardian concerning the food they get at the 127bis closed centre. He was placed in confinement. The day after, several guardians came to his cell. He … Continuer la lecture
Second deportationAttempt of a 16 years old Eritran: Deported
UPDATE 02/09: Phone reporting by Elsa from Rome : Her deportation: – She was searched and then tied (hands to the body) – Escort of 7 policemen – She was on the plane well before the passengers, they placed her … Continuer la lecture
Children at the closed center Caricole, again and again
18/08/2018 Since its opening, the Caricole includes several rooms called “family rooms” what others call cells. These rooms have a slightly separate space for sleeping children. Those rooms are separated from the rest of the spaces by locked doors and … Continuer la lecture
Testimony received from hosts : 05/08/2018
Over the past few days, we have received accounts of arrests or of calls for help, Please keep on sending your testimonies on gettingthevoiceout@riseup.net We won’t be able to say that we didn’t know! 6 minors in danger in Antwerp … Continuer la lecture
Communicating vessels. Overview 15/07/2018
For 10 who go to Great Britain, for 10 who get arrested and retained by the Foreigners Office, 20 others arrive to the North Station. They are communicating vessels! It is the law of supply and demand in this capitalist … Continuer la lecture
Information for the hosts/friends/families in case a migrant friend is missing.Update
———————————————————————————————————————————– 27/06/2018: Information for the hosts/friends/families in case a migrant friend is missing. Many foreigners in irregular situation are controlled/arrested on public transport, on parking lots, at train stations or at their homes. They are brought to a police station … Continuer la lecture
Escapes…..and new escape……
21/06/2018 Further escape attempts (to be confirmed); Four other detainees attempted to escape to the Vottem detention centre at 10 a.m. on 21 June. Three have been caught, one of them is still running. ——————————————————————————– H had been retained at … Continuer la lecture
Visit of an accredited NGO at the 127 bis closed centre on 7 June 2018
We had received distress messages from prisoners in closed centres and more particularly from 127bis in Steenokkerzeel. http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/ramadan-in-closed-centres-hunger-strike/ Following repression, detention and threats from the management for those who tried to have contacts with the outside, with the media, the … Continuer la lecture
In heavy pain, on hunger strike, epileptic and DEPORTED 05/06/2018
In heavy pain, on hunger strike, epileptic and DEPORTED Mimoun had been in Belgium for 3 years. He got a surgical operation due to a several cerebral pathology in 2017. He had to learn how to eat and walk again. … Continuer la lecture
Mass arrests and news from the closed centres 26/05/2018
The Office is filling hundreds of places in our camps called closed centres; places that had been made available on the occasion of the raids announced at the North Station and in Parc Maximilien. After the mobilisation of the platform … Continuer la lecture
Closed centres, our camps for migrants May 2022
The administrative detention of migrants (foreigners without residence permits considered as valid) entered into force in 1988 in Belgium. Since then, the multiplication of this type of space is more than obvious at the border because in 1988 there were … Continuer la lecture
Hungerstrike in closed centre in Vottem 19/04/2018
It has now been 25 days that an Albanian man retained in the closed centre for foreigners in Vottem has started a hunger strike, and for 3 days a thirst strike. We fear for his life. According to our information, … Continuer la lecture
WARNING: Deportation of an Eritrean to Sudan this 17th of April 2018 :Update
Update 18/04/2018 No news from the two persons deported to Sudan on 17th of April 2018. Several activists were at the airport to talk to the passengers. A group was very quickly stopped by the police, had their identities checked … Continuer la lecture
Stop 2 deportation to DRC on 12/04/2017: Update
Update 16/04: Prosper disappeared. The Cracpe have not heard from him 5 days after his deportation; which is extremely worrying. Pappy introduced a third asylum request with new elements. His deportation was cancelled. ——————————————————————————————————————————- Another man called PAPPY, retained for … Continuer la lecture
Audiotestimony : one who knows his laws and rights, well, they do not like it!
Audiotestimony from a closed centre /February 2018 listen here (Fr) Hello to all, I am here, admitted to the centre Vottem. I was arrested in Brussels because I did not have any papers. I am not a delinquent, I am … Continuer la lecture
Death at the border on 22/03/2018
On 21st of March, a 22 year old man died at the port of Zeebrugge as he tried to reach the UK. He was stuck between 2 containers and died instantly. This is the fifth known death since July 2017 … Continuer la lecture
Raids, releases,deportations : news 14/03/2018
For a few weeks, raids on parkings and in stations all around Belgium are ongoing again. Several hosts contact us to warn us of the arrest, often violent, and/of the retention in closed centres of one of their guests. Very … Continuer la lecture
DemonStration at the 127 bis closed centre : « It’s wonderful ! We are not lonely! »
28/02/2018: At the time of big demonstrations by the citizens’ platform in favour of a ‘more human policy’, we received less calls from hosts announcing retentions of exiled people in transit. However, they continue to arrest people: Albanians, Erythreans, Turks, … Continuer la lecture
New visit by a Sudanese delegation in the closed centres ?
New visit by a Sudanese delegation in the closed centres! Urgent 26/02/2018 : Call by a Sudanese man retained in Merksplas closed centre to a host. “The social assistant warned me that ‘a meeting will take place on 27 February … Continuer la lecture
“Spend my life in prison in Algeria or die in Belgium?”Deportation cancelled
Update 22/02/2018 When he got to the airport, A was notified that his third asylum request would be dealt with by CGRA and that his deportation was cancelled. ————————————————————————————————————————————- Spend my life in prison in Algeria or die in … Continuer la lecture
Testimonies after the evacuation of the 127bis closed centre
On Friday 26th January at 10 p.m. : the alert is given in the 127bis because of smoke due, according to the media, to a short-circuit in an electric cabin :https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_evacuation-du-centre-127-bis-a-la-suite-d-un-court-circuit?id=9823196 http://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20180127_03324488 All the retainees were displaced in the courtyard. … Continuer la lecture
ALERT – SAHA will experiment a new deportation attempt to Bangladesh this WEDNESDAY!
23/01/2018: Two weeks ago, we denounced the violence Saha, a young Bangladeshi who has been living in Belgium for 10 years, had to go through during a deportation attempt that was interrupted by the pilot of the plane: http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/mangled-by-the-escort-during-their-deportation-attempt-on-him-s-is-asking-who-are-the-criminals/ He … Continuer la lecture
Fallen into oblivion in our ‘law-abiding’ state – Appeal to all!
14/01/2018: It seems that the federal police have launched a migrants’ hunting in the whole country, determined to ‘clean’ all the country: arrests in the stations, parkings and trains the last days. Many hosts are calling us to report missing … Continuer la lecture
The Office des étrangers in counterattack !
The fast intervention team of the Office des étrangers at work On the 25th of December 2017 around noon : a host brings back two migrants to Brussels. The federal police holds an alcohol control on the highway E40 at … Continuer la lecture
Collective deportation to Guinea and DRC on 2017/11/28
Collective deportation to Guinea and DRC on 2017/11/28 Several guineas detained in the Vottem and 127bis closed centres have received a ticket for a collective flight this coming Tuesday 2017/11/28. The flight would leave at 10:30. The social assistants have … Continuer la lecture
Audio: “There are Sudanese who suffer here” (FR)
There are Sudanese who suffer here During the demonstration for the regularisation on October 12th, retainees of a closed centre wanted to participate live through their phones. Unfortunately it was not feasible for technical reasons. Audio here (Fr) “There are … Continuer la lecture
Audio: It is a prison here, Madam (FR)
14/11/2017 It is a prison here, Madam. Before the great manifestation for regularisation of all on November 12 2017 some detained persons had volunteered to participate through telephone. Sadly, it was not possible because of technical difficulties. Here are their … Continuer la lecture
The hunt for migrants in transit goes on
14/11/2017: The hunt for migrants in transit goes on in all the country. Every day we get alerts by hosts who lost their guests, their main worry being that they get arrested, retained and expatriated. Controls and arrests continue but … Continuer la lecture
Maximilien Parc : acknowledged refugee arrested and retained in a closed centre: Update
Update 06/10/2017: Mikele is FREE: Thanks to all ————————————————————————————————————— O5/10/2017 Mikele is a young Erythrean who got arrested in Brussels and retained in the 127bis closed centre on the 22nd of October 2017 although his refugee status had been acknowledged … Continuer la lecture
14 and retained in a closed centre: Update
Update 1 November 2017 After the call from the closed centre of Merksplas, we promised ourselves that the young boy would not stay another night in that jail. Mission accomplished! Thanks to your calls, faxes and emails, the guardianship service … Continuer la lecture
Suicide attempt at the Caricole closed centre
19/10/2017 : I. cut her wrist in her shower at the Caricole closed centre on 18th October 2017. She was very bad psychologically for the last two days, she had asked assistance from the medical service and an appointment with … Continuer la lecture
Children are the first victims of imprisonments and deportations!
03/10/2017 Every day, families are being broken by the Foreigners Office that retains fathers and mothers, separating them form their children, sometimes newborns, and does not hestitate to deport the parent to the “country of origin”, on the pretext of … Continuer la lecture
They are really trapping the Sudanese
29/09/2017 Since the mass arrestations in the Maximilien park and in the North Station, we had a lot of difficulties to get in touch with the hundred people arrested and retained in the closed centre. According to the information we … Continuer la lecture
RESISTANCE……..and profile of the DRC people deported
RESISTANCE……..and profile of the DRC people deported on the collective flight to Nigeria, Ghana and the DRC Opponents Several are well known opponents to Kabila’s regime and they have been militants for years. They have been retained in closed centres … Continuer la lecture
ALERT : Group deportation to the DRC, Nigeria, Ghana on 26th September 2017: Update
Update: The collective depootation will take people from Nigeria, Ghana and DRC —————————————————————————————————————— Several DRC retained in the closed centres got notified that they had been registered on a group flight to Kinshasa on 26 September 2017 at 10 a.m … Continuer la lecture
Maximilien: Hunger strike at the 127 bis and “Call for air” – Update
Update 17/09/2017: The people who were arrested daily over the last weeks by the police in Maximilien parc, its surroundings and in the North Station are still many to be retained in closed centres. It remains very complicated to spot … Continuer la lecture
More than 20 Sudanese and Somalis in our closed centres
05/08/2017: Francken discovered two countries he didn’t know: Sudan and Somalia. Since almost a year, migrants – mainly Sudanese and Eritreans, have been sleeping in the Maximilien Parc in Brussels. Associations and volunteers try to provide them with food and … Continuer la lecture
Urgent deportation!: Deported
Update 31st August 2017 Some people were at the airport but it was very difficult to find passengers willing to listen to the problematic. Fefe arrived in Kinshasa in a very bad state. Friends and family members were waiting for … Continuer la lecture
The Belgian government wants to deliver a Congolese activist to the DRC authorities.
14/08/2017 : A second deportation attempt with police escort is announced on August 17 for Mrs TULUKA MIZAKU Fefe She arrived in Belgium in 2006, fleeing Kabila’s regime which had put her in prison for being critical. Mme T.M.Fefe is … Continuer la lecture
A new deportation attempt with police escort for Clarisse Mbongo Iseka is announced this coming Thursday August 10
Update: 11/08/2017: Some people went to the airport to tell passengers that Clarisse would be on the plane: Clarisse resisted her second deportation attempt with police escort. “When we went up the stairs onto the plane, some of the police … Continuer la lecture
Construction of three new detention centres in Belgium
05/08/2017: Mid May 2017 the Council of Ministers have approved a masterplan “Detention centres for illegal residents”. The masterplan provides a big extension of the existing return capacity and the creation of three new dentention centres. “With this masterplan we … Continuer la lecture
Mass deportation to Nigeria on 9 or 10 August 2017: Update
Update 07/08 /2017: departurz of the flight the 09/08/2017 at 10 p.m. —————————————————————————————————————————- We learned from a sound source that 80 to 100 Nigerians will be deported on August 9th or 10th. It would be a Frontex flight organised by … Continuer la lecture
« What could I possibly do back in Congo ? »: New deportation attempt mislukt
Update 24/07/2017: Changement de programme : ils ont essayé de mettre Francis sur le vol vers Abidjan à 11h15……Coups ,saucissonage….Francis a expliqué sa situation aux passagers. Beaucoup se sont levés, beaucoup ont filmé. Francis a été ressortit de l’avion et ramené … Continuer la lecture
‘here is the plumber, there is a leak in the house’
17/06/2017 Violence strikes again: married and repelled He is Iraqi and he benefits from the subsidiary protection. She is from Morocco. They got married then years ago and they were living in Iraq from where they fled in 2013. In … Continuer la lecture
Sunday 11th of June – let’s all meet at the airport to prevent 2 forced expulsions to Africa!
Be it a proved asylum seeker or the father of two small kids, the Foreigners Office is persisting. Two escorts will operate, with their well-knwon violence, at the same time at Zaventem airport, to forcibly embark two persons on two … Continuer la lecture
Yassine was deported and arrived to Casablanca on 31st of May 2017
He was able to give us a brief phone call when arriving to Casablanca. He explained to us that he went through serious violence when boarding, he was tied and handcuffed like for every forced deportation, with systematic shots by … Continuer la lecture
Sentenced to life
30/05/2017 Here we go, the legislation allowing to deport foreigners who were born in Belgium enters into force, and it is with Yassine that the governement will ‘inaugurate’ it, in the name of alleged ‘security measures’. Born in Belgium 36 … Continuer la lecture
Let’s prevent the deportation of a ‘criminal’ father, this 21th of May 2017
Update : We were several at the airport, including the lawyer and one parliamentarian, to talk to the passengers. We heard that the deportation of Mahmadou had been cancelled because, so they told him, there was “no escort available”. It’s … Continuer la lecture
Steenrock inside the closed centres
14/05/2017 CENSORSHIP AND REPRESSION The annual Steenrock festival 2017 took place on 06/05/2017 in front of the Steenokkerzeel closed centre to protest against imprisonments and deportation, with concerts, public speaking, demonstration in front of the fences of the centre, testimonies … Continuer la lecture
Deportation attempt: Urgent…. Update
10/05/2017: E was deported. In the first plane, 4 people opposed to the deportation and were arrested, according to Francken. To be confirmed. https://theotuurt.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/opstand-aan-boord-2/ E was placed on a flight through Morocco and is now being retained in Sierra Leone. … Continuer la lecture
Stop an expulsion under escort! Deportation Canceled
Ms J is about to undergo a 2nd expulsion attempt this Monday 8/05/2017 She is from Cameroun and lives in Belgium since 2005. he obtained a work conditionned based regularization. She lost it due to the fact that her future … Continuer la lecture
SPECIAL FLIGHT to the DRC and Guinea on 19 April 2017:Update
20/04 We are expecting news from the deported. It was a “joint flight” organised by Frontex. Mainstream media com: http://www.sudinfo.be/1828519/article/2017-04-19/dix-neuf-congolais-et-guineens-expulses-par-vol-militarise-depuis-la-belgique Nineteen Congolese and Guineans deported from Belgium on a military flight. Eleven Congolese and eight Guineans were smoothly deported on … Continuer la lecture
Let’s prevent one deportation: “Please madam, help me save my life”: expulsio annulée
13/04/2017 Emmanuel, a young Sierra Leonean, has already experienced several deportation attempts to China (through which he transited) and to Sierra Leone (his home country). They even brought him by force once to Sierra Leone – two days sleeping on … Continuer la lecture
LET’S STOP THE DEPORTATION MACHINE:Not deported
Udate 07/04: Le vol a été annulé suite à une nouvelle demande d’asile. Il a fait un aller retour Merksplas-127 bis-Merksplas et n’a pas été présenté à l’aéroport : ““Merksplas – 127 bis – Merksplas- Tout ce va est vient, … Continuer la lecture
Potential collective deportation of Congolese nationals!
01/04/2017 – We’ve heard from two different sources that a military flight to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would be foreseen in the coming days/weeks. We know that a dozen Congolese are currently being retained in closed centres, among … Continuer la lecture
Alert:Deportation with escort on 24/03/2017: update
Update 25/03:He left the centre at 6.30 a.m. He rang us at 2 p.m when he was back at the centre. « When you see me, you will cry ». At the airport, there were 5 men and 1 woman … Continuer la lecture
“I will never come here again”
Testimony 19/03/2017 Hello, On Tuesday 14th of March, I was arrested at Charleroi airport because of overstaying (90/180, not indicated on my vignette, and I was not aware of it). I was driven to the closed centre like a criminal. … Continuer la lecture
Suicide attempt at the Caricole
Physically and psychologically exhausted by a retention of more than 3 months in a closed centre, he had to confront the CGRA and the CEE that did not react to his call for help. However, his calls could not have … Continuer la lecture
“I prefer to die here”
01/03/2017 On the outside, huge barriers, fences as far as your eyes can see, doorphones every 3 meters, windows padlocked with crews. In the inside, innocent people who were born with the wrong documents or in the wrong country. The … Continuer la lecture
Three teenagers locked up in a closed center in Bruges (Belgium)
24/02 Strangely enough (!), following our appeal and the reaction of lawyers and organisations, the three kids who had been detained in the closed centre of Bruges for a week have been recognized as minors by the authorities and taken to an open … Continuer la lecture
Audio : Testimony by an “extremely dangerous terrorist”, dixit Francken (FR)
Our Secretary of State for Aslyum and Migration can see bandits everywhere. He deemed all by himself that Mohamed is THE dangerous terrorist and seeks by all means to deport him without evidence and without appeal. He even publicises his … Continuer la lecture
Alerte Pétition
https://www.petitions24.net/liberez_madame_e_detenue_illegalement_et_separee_de_ses_enfants Englih translation Free Miss E,illegaly detained and separated from her children Miss E is detained since mid-January in the Caricole detention center while she has a valid resident card in France ! Help us to collect as much signatures … Continuer la lecture
Hunger strike in Merksplas, Mistreatment and escape at the 127 bis
02/02/2017 Merksplas Several retainees of the Merksplas closed centre have been on a hunger strike for 5 days to protest against their retention. Three of them have been placed in confinement cells by punishment. An escalation of racist actions by … Continuer la lecture
A mother of 4 children legally residing in France retained at the Caricole, expecting to be deported to China! FREE!
Update 13/02/2017 RELEASES: AFTER the criminal retention, mid-January, of Mrs E. who was arrested while in transit at Zaventem airport with a French residence permit in order but with a “non-compliant” passport according to the Foreigners Office: AFTER 3 deportation … Continuer la lecture
Urgent : stop Walid’s suprise deportation this Monday 16/01/17 ! Deported!
Walid is currently detained in the closed centre of Vottem, he had started a hunger and thirst strike last 13st in order to protest against his detention for over one year now in closed centres. His story is to be … Continuer la lecture
Stop this deportation on Monday 09/01/2017 !!!!!! Deported
Update: MH a été expulsé dans “les règles de l’art”: Fouille au commissariat de l’aéroport, mis à poil, 6 flics, attaché avec ceinture “comme Hannibal le cannibal”, accueillit par la police à Alger, prise d’empreintes et 4 heures d’interrogatoire……..puis libéré … Continuer la lecture
Anti-terrorism Abuses : a Testimony
04/01/2017 5 A.M.. T. wakes up. Some noise at the door, like a dog scratching. It is cold this December 5, and since the heating system in the appartment is out of order, she sleeps on the living room couch … Continuer la lecture
Special flight,the deportation machine
« They asked me whether I was going to be nice to them. » Their words still resonate in his head. « You have to leave, you don’t have the choice. You are obliged to get on that plane otherwise … Continuer la lecture
Action against the deportation of a handicaped man to Armenie on 19/12/2016
R, 26, his brother A, 30, and their mother have been at the Caricole closed centre in Steenokkerzeel for two months. Ruben, the oldest, has a serious progressive disease and is heavily physically handicapped. He needs constant assitance from her … Continuer la lecture
Algerian friends, beware and hide yourselves! The hunting is open – 08/12/2016
We zoeken achter een vertaler in het nl! While Belgium tries, in vain, to reinforce the ‘police cooperation’ with Algeria http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/la-belgique-tente-de-renforcer-la-cooperation-policiere-avec-l-algerie-58494a23cd709a48787c4049 and Théo Francken declares on twitter that they continue working ‘behind the screen’, the hunting goes on. Several dozens … Continuer la lecture
BREAKING NEWS: DEATH IN MORTON HALL DETENTION CENTRE
07/12/2016 Today we have received a phone call from someone in Morton Hall, who tells us that a man died yesterday in the detention centre. We have been told that yesterday afternoon, at around 3pm, the man started foaming at … Continuer la lecture
How long will we let them act this way? 05/12/2016
According to the testimony of a person retained in Merksplas, a police escort came to the centre this Monday to pick up Arsen K, Chechen, in order to deport him to Moscow. It was the first deportation attempt on him, … Continuer la lecture
“On Mondays, the social assistant distributes plane tickets just like peanuts”
Théo Francken is proud to announce the retention and expulsion of many «undocumented criminals ». These endless retentions are challenging, they are part of Machiavellian and dishonest, not to say illegal processes. As an example among many others, some had … Continuer la lecture
Let’s prevent a second deportation attempt with escort of a man , father of 3 children
Testimony by Arsen Kuntaev, Chechen, in Belgium for around 10 years and father of three children, whose deportation to Moscow is planned for this Monday 28th of November at 12.25 a.m from Zaventem Arsen was living in Lier close to … Continuer la lecture
Escape from closed centre in Brugge on 18/11/2016
Six prisoners tried to escape from the detention centre of Bruges on Friday 18/11/2016 at 7 p.m. Four of them succeeded and are now free! Two were held back by the guards. They cut the fence of a window, climbed … Continuer la lecture
Is Belgium a safe country for asylum seekers?
Detained for 11 months, defended by a lawyer who is a member of the N-VA, then deported to Kabul: is Belgium a safe country for asylum seekers? S.R, a young Afghan asylum seeker, came to Belgium one year ago and … Continuer la lecture
Italy: Deportation to Sudan 24/08/2016
Today 12:45 deportation of 40 Sudanese are rounded up there two days before the center of the Red Cross Ventimiglia towards Sudan (Khartoum), via Turin Airport and the company “EgyptAir”. They were received by a judge and their deportation was … Continuer la lecture
New arbitrary arrestation at the airport 30/07/2016
Mrs. F., of Guinean origin, has been living for 18 years in the United States. She legally stays there, rents an apartment, and works in New York. On 03/07, she lands in Belgium with her two daughters aged 11 and … Continuer la lecture
Racism at our borders 11/07/2016
At Brussels National airport in Zaventem For several months, Subsaharian or Maghrebin travellers in transit at Brussels National airport are caught by the police and retained in closed centres. During the holidays period, some who are legal residents in one … Continuer la lecture
URGENT call from the Caricole closed centre 06 July 2016: UPDATE
update 8th of July – the second family is composed of a mother and 3 children legally residing in the US for 10 years. Today the 3 children were brought to friends of the mother in Liège. The mother still … Continuer la lecture
A man with a Spanish residence permit deported to Guinea
Update 12 July 2016 – After one month of retention, two deportation/refoulement attempts, three appearances in court for a release request each time postponed, Mr Sow has been released and may at last join his family in Spain, his country of … Continuer la lecture
Phone recharges needed for the retainees in closed centres
20/06/2016 Retainees in the centres are currently in urgent need of phone recharges. Some were arrested on their migration road (Zeebruge, Ostende, at the French border) and separated from their family whom they absolutely want to find back and/or warn. … Continuer la lecture
« The closed centre is a small society in itself” 18/06/2016
Words by a retainee in a closed centre for more than 4 months: « The closed centre is a small society in itself: we are getting organised, we discuss with people from all over the world, we have arguments and … Continuer la lecture
Mr Francken¹s deterrence mission in Albania 13 June 2016
Albanians are the target this time! Théo Francken adds the imprisonment of lots of Albanians in closed centres to his mission. On Twitter (see below) ‘Loads of Albanians in prisons¹ i.e all Albanians are criminals. ŒDeterrence visit in Albania¹. ŒAgreement … Continuer la lecture
Express deportations : what a shame! !!!! 26/05/2016
Mr H is among the last persons who had climbed the crane with 8 other undocumented people on 17th of November 2015 http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/policemen-dressed-up-in-firemen/ Six of them were retained in a closed centre, two were deported and the others have been … Continuer la lecture
Physical searches at the 127 bis centre in Steenokkerzeel
This Sunday 14/05/2016, suddenly, around 1 p.m., the guards of the 127 bis closed centre decided to search everybody in the wing nr 1. All prisoners had to gather in the common hall. They were called one by one by … Continuer la lecture
Fifth deportation this Friday 6th of May
update 8th of May 2016 :Mr D was deported by force, feet and hands tied, with sticky tape on his mouth to prevent him from shouting. ———————————————————————————————————————————– D has been retained in our centres for 8 months, waiting to be … Continuer la lecture
ALERTA 25/04/2016
If you are undocumented and you hear that the police are looking for you in order to talk to you, avoid getting in touch with them. Temporarily disappear from your official address and ask for help to your lawyer, friends, … Continuer la lecture
“This retention and this asylum request are really extremely problematic”:Free!
UPDATE 12/04: This morning, Mamadou got a ticket for his deportation to Gambia on the following day. The result of an appeal for his release was also due to fall on the same day: the court decided that his retention … Continuer la lecture
Words by a migrant in a closed centre following the terrorist attacks
27/03/2016 ‘I’m sorry for you, but didn’t you look for it?’ These words remind us of other words by people arrested and retained in the closed centre that we heard several times in the past: ‘In Africa, white people have … Continuer la lecture
New collective deportation to Nigeria?
16/03/2016 Last week, a wing of the detention center 127 bis has been emptied on 08/03/2016. We hear that on 14/03 17 Nigerian women have been brought there. So, we assume that some of them have been brought from other … Continuer la lecture