Category: News from the centres

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 →

 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 →

 – 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 →

        – 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 →

 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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

26/01/2016 A young boy was deported by force: his parents and family are living here. He left his ‘country of origin’, DRC, when he was 7 years old and doesn’t know anything nor anyone there. His crime: he had a … Continuer la lecture →

They are two young Bosnians, 18 and 20 years old, living with their families in the North of France. They crossed the border with Belgium to buy cigarettes. They were caught by the Belgian police and at the request of … Continuer la lecture →

A lot of repression in the centres. It seems to be the only communication mean for the management. Some of our friends don’t answer the phone anymore. They just disappeared! Transfers, cells, deportations? Do we have to issue a warrant … Continuer la lecture →

Update:Closed centres 21 December 2015 127bis: 17 people still on hunger strike. They met the Director of the Centre this afternoon. Vottem: 17 people still on hunger strike in the blue wing, several  “leaders” as the Office calls them, have … Continuer la lecture →

Closed centre 127bis . Last week, a dozen of releases. Among them, a few Afghans who had been arrested in the context of the Afghans’ hunt announced by Francken. This week, reopening of the wing for 40 people with a … Continuer la lecture →

On 16th of November, 8 undocumented people climbed two cranes in Brussels. Most of them had been on the Belgian territory for more than 10 years. Many have been involved in movements of fight for the undocumented for several years. … Continuer la lecture →

Update 20/09: Detainees were waiting for us in the backyard of the centre with banners, shouting for freedom.A man climbed on the roof with many banners. In a second wing we could not get close to the tension was extremely … Continuer la lecture →

On 14th September 2015 we learnt that 25 Iraqis were being detained in one of the wings of the 127bis closed centre. Most of them were arrested at the Foreigners Office after being convened. They were told that they have … Continuer la lecture →

Several detainees of the closed centre have started a hunger strike, some of them 5 days ago. They are claiming for the treatment of their files. Some of them have been there for several months and they didn’t get any … Continuer la lecture →

01/05/2015 Returns: their lives are here! A lot of people who get deported to a country where they transited and who are called “Dublin migrants” are returning back here: they have their life here, their wife, children, work and life … Continuer la lecture →

12/02/2015 Deportations, news from the centres Here are some news from the situation in the centres. The number of deportations is huge, so are the refusals to be deported, hence the privilege to benefit from a second, third, or even … Continuer la lecture →

In the night of 17th of January, three detainees tried to escape. They broke the windowns of their cell and found themselves in the courtyard, trying to climb the fences surrounding the centre. The guards called the police that arrived … Continuer la lecture →

We’ve learnt by the Dutch media that 12 detainees of the Bruges closed centre escaped the centre on January 7th 2015! They are of twelve different nationalities. They escaped through the window! They vanished into thin air..

This night two very young serbians were able to escape from the 127bis. Incarcerated since three days, they lifted their window out after the last contrôle of midnight and found their freedom.

Humane : no – Fair: no – Efficient : yes – Made by Francken ! They are currently four women between 60 and 70 years old who have been retained in the 127 bis centre, some of them for more … Continuer la lecture →

For 6 days, Mohamad I, 24, of Pakistani origin, detained at the closed centre in Vottem, has been on hunger and thirst strike. Today his health is at stake, according to his pairs in the centre. He came to Belgium … Continuer la lecture →

Shot down like an animal” “On the morning of 15/09/2014, 10 policemen wanted to collect a Nigerian from the closed centre ‘Le Caricole’. When he refused to accompany them they severely beat him and dragged him on the ground. They … Continuer la lecture →

He spent 25 years in prison and some time in the high security wing in Bruges. He served his full sentence. He should have been released under the condition that he would leave the territory; which he had promised he … Continuer la lecture →

While this woman, seeking asylum, was driven back from the tribunal, handcuffed as usual as is the custom for foreigners driven in vans, the guards forgot her in full sunlight after reaching the Caricole closed centre. On Monday (22 July), … Continuer la lecture →

They are sick of being treated like animals. No respect, no right at all. Some do not have any juridical assistance. When seriously ill, they can not see a doctor. If you want to see one, you must wait for … Continuer la lecture →

Update 15/07: 25 detenees refuse to eate this evening and ask the liberty for ALL. Text message from the closed centre 10:54 p.m. on 14th July « There is a huge mess in the centre. Everyone’s on strike ». At … Continuer la lecture →

Merksplas : Two detainees on a hunger strike for 8 days have been in solitary confinement since then. Vottem For 19 days, an Indian man detained in Vottem has been on hunger strike. Four days ago, he also started a … Continuer la lecture →

Vottem After the hunger and thirst strikes by mostly Pakistani people, among whom two have been released, there seems to be a new hunger strike movement concerning around 20 people. Merksplas Six days ago, a protest movement started, notably a … Continuer la lecture →

MERCI, DANK U, Thank you to everybody from the camp DEMONSTRATION of the Caravan 2014 of undocumented migrants and refugees 26 juin 2014 Start : Place du Béguinage Brussel 04.30 p.m  People from all over Europe organise a Caravan For … Continuer la lecture →

For the last 8 days, a hunger strike, and sometimes a thirst strike, has started at the closed centre in Vottem. Among them are people who fear for their lives in case of forced depor-tation. One example among many others: … Continuer la lecture →

For six days, several persons have been on hunger strike, some on thirst strike, at the closed centre in Vottem. Among them are people of Pakistani origin who fear for their lives if deported by force. Indeed, in Pakistan several … Continuer la lecture →

Following several events, the 127 bis has become a powder keg General search and seizure of prayer carpets On June 4th 2014, after a meeting organised with the detainees by the Centre Management, during which the majority had complaints about … Continuer la lecture →

“They have a lot of money here: Two cops for each deportation, several times per day, who get payed for a roundtrip. It’s a big budget for a country in crisis!” “Commerce is going well in closed centers” In the … Continuer la lecture →

UPDATE: 25/02 19:00: the effectiveness of repression: calm returns to the detention center of Bruges: Some placed in solitary confinment, groups of cops  with dogs. “Resisting was impossible” say the prisoners. 25/02 10:30: The police is in the center with … Continuer la lecture →

A man in his 50s tried to kill himself on Friday 14/02/2014. He cut himself with a knife. The other detainees were very upset this morning, the suicide attempt was spectacular. The man was taken to the hospital and the … Continuer la lecture →

Our Maggie Deblock and her friend Freddy Roosemont, director of the Immigration Office are visiting Conakry; At the same time, Guineans get stopped at the the Immigration Office or in public places. This February the 1, a police raid took … Continuer la lecture →

Ce 28/01/2014 à7h30 un nombre impressionnant de policiers accompagnés de chiens sont descendus dans les 3 ailes fonctionnelles du camp (une quatrième aile est en travaux suite à des évasions il y a 2 mois). Les détenus ont été amenés … Continuer la lecture →

Update 15/01 “Following the ‘encounter’ with the director of Vottem, five detainees were placed in solitary confinement and fifteen were transferred to other centres!!! The calm was restored! Since the evening of Saturday 11 January, the tension has been high … Continuer la lecture →

A few stories of women in the centres: A lot of women are ringing us these days to denounce the situation of their co-detainees in the closed centres of Bruges and Steenokkerzeel. A climate that is harsh and heavy. On … Continuer la lecture →

Update: 13/01: les travaux de peinture ont commencé dans l’aile 1. Même que certains détenus y participent et seraient payer pour leur travail (en noir?) Ce matin l’aile 1 du centre fermé 127bis à Steenokkerzeel a été vidée de ses … Continuer la lecture →

On Sunday 8th December in the afternoon,  cheerful chaps gathered in front of the 127bis closed centre in Steenokkerzeel. After they exchanged a few words with the detainees who were in the yard, the guards rapidly had the detainees go … Continuer la lecture →

In four closed centres, hunger strikes have been started by prisoners in protest against the death of a young man from the Ivory Coast in the closed centre of Bruges on 5 December, and out of solidarity with the people … Continuer la lecture →

Update 06/12 10 p;m A Bruges, la police est intervenue ce 06/12. Elle est restée dehors et a appelé plusieurs personnes un par un à l’extérieur. Trois personnes ont été Certains ont été mis en isolement, trois autres transférés vers … Continuer la lecture →

First the bad news The 17 Congolese at the 127 bis are in mourning: the mother of one of them died yesterday night in Angola. He had not seen her for years and has been retained in the closed centre … Continuer la lecture →

11/11/2013 The fight of the Congolese in the closed centres: Since the grouped flight that brought 10 Congolese and our Minister De Crem to Congo on 27th October 2013, around 30 Congolese are still detained in our closed centres in … Continuer la lecture →

5/11/2013 The flames of anger remain in the coldness of the closed centers. They consumed a sheet in a cell on Monday night in the closed centre of Vottem, as voices rose louder and louder against the detention conditions. Accident … Continuer la lecture →

 Deportation: Mrs S was expelled onthe sly to Togo . http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/deportation-at-any-price/ She underwent serious violence committed by the Belgian escort during the eviction . On her arrival in Lome , she was taken to the hospital. She filed a complaint … Continuer la lecture →

google translation: Closed center “The Refuge“: 32 women, of different origins have dressed in the colors of Nigeria, have gathered and have a few minutes of silence held for Semira Adamu, then they sang for her memorial. their message: “In … Continuer la lecture →

Engl transl? Update 21/09: Cinq prisonniers ont été mis au cachot hier soir. Le directeur est venu menacé les grévistes de la faim et leur a dit que si ils continuent leur mouvement il appellerait à nouveau la police. Vingt … Continuer la lecture →

 43 detainees of the 127bis closed centre stopped feeding themselves today. They claim for the hospitalisation of a Palestinian co-detainee who has been on hunger strike for 11 days and who is not well at all. The management of the … Continuer la lecture →

 Some detainees have told us that SN Airlines Agents ‘paid a visit’ to a few detainees in a closed centre on September 3rd 2013. They asked to see the file of several Africans to be deported soon and who had … Continuer la lecture →

  Update: On 08/25 9.30 p.m., at least two Congolese women were placed in confinement with no reason and not allowed to warn anyone. Women in the centre are very worried and fear a surprise deportation for them.  Togo, Congo, … Continuer la lecture →

He is 17, Guinean. He came to Belgium when he was 12. He had been to Switzerland with a  girl friend. The Swiss police brought him back to Belgium. He was told to go to the Foreigners Office; which he … Continuer la lecture →

Moroccans, Algerians, Tunisians, Palestinians, Pakistani, Guineans, Congolese, Bulgarians, Afghans… They are being arrested at the Foreigners Office, at home, on the street, at work, etc. Every day, newcomers are being told ‘you must leave’. Some 30 Afghans are now detained … Continuer la lecture →

31/07/2013 -About the worthlessness of detention centres Many are currently being picked up at home very early in the morning, regardless of their nationality, by the local/federal police on the authority of the Foreigners’ Office SEFOR Service, because they had … Continuer la lecture →

 10/06/2013 It seems that a majority of arrests, detentions and deportations are currently reserved for Morrocans and Tunisians. It seems that the Foreigners’ Office is again targeting both nationalities, after having bothered Guineans, Albanians, Kosovars and many others before. Today, … Continuer la lecture →

 Bruges On the 23rd of May, prisoners in Bruges went on a hunger strike. http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/general-hunger-strike-at-the-bruges-detention-centre/ According to the news we got today, the police arrived in big number this morning and searched all the prisoners of the centre and their … Continuer la lecture →

 Update: At 9 a.m are many police in the centre The people detained at the detention centre in Bruges ‘De Refuge’ on wings A, B, C and D have informed us that they have today, 23 May 2013, begun a … Continuer la lecture →

Three men had managed to escape from the detention center of Bruges 06/05. We learn that they have left the country for warmer skies. They feel free and are happy!

The women who had started a hunger strike on 7th of May in the closed centre in Bruges suspended their action on the 9th of May after strong pressure from the management. http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/break-out-and-hunger-strikes-in-the-closed-centre-of-bruges/ They wanted to meet journalists to denounce … Continuer la lecture →

Update 10/05:  http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/strategie-de-la-peur-dans-le-centre-ferme-de-bruges-greve-de-la-faim-suspendue-solidarite/ Update: 08/05 Around 50 are on a hunger strike and they are extremely united. A few women do not strike, either because they are pregnant or sick. The management seems to currently accept the action, the only … Continuer la lecture →

 Even if an important solidarity rises up between prisoners, we seldom come to hear of real actions to be set up from the inside. Certain centres are very repressive and it is becoming increasingly hard to know what is going … Continuer la lecture →

 Violence in the centres On the 15th March, a man who was coming back from the closed centre of Merksplas after a third deportation attempt had an altercation with the manager of the centre. The security was called. He was … Continuer la lecture →

Good news first Seven prisoners escaped from the closed centre of Merksplas during the night. The screws noticed their disappearance early morning. The escapees were already far away, vanished into thin air! One prisoner for whom a second deportation attempt … Continuer la lecture →

15/02/2013: Mr Traore is free today. 10 days illegal detention for Mr Traore. Thousands days of illegitime detention for the others   Freedom for all. Nobody is illegal. Mr Traoré, of Guinean origin, has been living in Belgium since 2004. He … Continuer la lecture →

Merksplas: Fifteen days ago: the riot police organised a raid with dogs in the closed centre. They were very harsh and beated the detainees event in the centre’s mosk. Some detainees showed resistance and 6 of them were put into … Continuer la lecture →

“BACK TO LIFE AFTER CHRISTMAS AT CARICOLE” A man wrote to us that he came to Belgium to celebrate the Christmas with his sister and had a valid visa. He was arrested at the airport, detained in the Caricole centre … Continuer la lecture →

They were a few solidary people in one of the blocks in Merksplas. They had been living together for several weeks and were peacefully fighting against discrimination every day. “Each and every one deserve their dignity” they said. Three of … Continuer la lecture →

ENGL TRANSLATION WELCOM! Suite à l’action devant le centre fermé de Bruges ce 20/10/2012 , http://bxl.indymedia.org/articles/5474,  http://bxl.indymedia.org/articles/5464, nous avons reçu des dizaines d’appels des personnes enfermées dans le centre, pendant et après l’action. Nous avons eu l’occasion de faire sortir … Continuer la lecture →

Dear I want to tell you something about the detention center of Merksplas. This happened yesterday and today. A detainee told me and I wanted you to be informed as well. Yesterday during dinner,  something happened to a boy, named … Continuer la lecture →

Nobody dares to talk. “As soon as one talks, one gets into trouble and is punished”. No one dares to make phone calls: they are told that phones are tapped! Those who ring us from the outside generally speak on … Continuer la lecture →

  (Can somebody translate it???You send it to gettingthevoiceout@vluchteling.be) “La machine à expulser fonctionne bien chez vous” nous dit un détenu!… » “Tout ce qu’on peut faire est combattre pour garder surface” “Après quelques jours on choisit la résignation” “Pour … Continuer la lecture →

Imprisonments, deportations, flights with escorts. The rejection of populations who flee tragic situations in their countries and who would like to share the ‘democratic’ system of our developed countries is in full swing. The leaders of our Fortress Europe will … Continuer la lecture →

05/06 Chaotic day in the 127bis Following several perturbations (two “uncooperative” refugees transferred from Vottem to 127bis, isolation of a man from the Ivory Coast and another one from Guinea who doesn’t eat nor drink since his arrival last week), … Continuer la lecture →

07/06 :Notre ami a été ramené au centre avec diverses sutures aux poignet et au cou. Il est toujours en isolement. Actuellement il refuse de manger et serait transféré dans un aure centre dans les prochains jours This Monday morning, … Continuer la lecture →

All information gathered from the closed centres for the last two weeks http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/ According to the prisoners of the closed centre 127bis, 90% of the detainees are DUBLIN 2 cases. They are being deported to the European country where they … Continuer la lecture →

127 bis:  a lot of stress in the centre, many discussions, one suicide attempt, conflicts among detainees and isolation of recalcitrant individuals. Two persons have been in a hunger strike for one week: one national from Maghreb and one from … Continuer la lecture →

MISINFORMATION From inside the 127bis closed centre, during the SteenRock on May 5 2012 here Some people greatly appreciated this act of solidarity, even though it was really though that afternoon… The security service had been reinforced (twice or three … Continuer la lecture →

Closed Centre 127bis Steenokkerzeel – A Congolese woman, was released with an order to leave the territory after almost six months in prison. Listen to her interview here – In the night from 25th to 26th of April, violent altercations … Continuer la lecture →

They are all under pressure. Most of them do not dare having contacts with the outisde for fear of reprisals. They feel absolutely helpless. Some of them ended up accepting their deportation after the bullying by the staff of the … Continuer la lecture →

NOUVELLES DES CENTRES FERMES 6 /04/2012 Depuis l’organisation des 2 charters vers la Guinée et vers le Congo, beaucoup sont très angoissés et ont peur d’un nouveau charter collectif. D’après certaines sources des nouveaux vols collectifs sont prévus vers le … Continuer la lecture →

127bis  : Tension palpable au centre fermé. Les prisonniers ne font plus confiance à personnes. Ils se sentent trahis par tout le monde. Un prisonnier est en Grève de la faim depuis 6 jours. Il est là depuis presque 3 … Continuer la lecture →

Ce dimanche 18 décembre, 150 personnes s’étaient rassemblées à la gare de Nossegem pour marcher vers le centre fermé 127bis et découvrir le 127ter, toute nouvelle prison qui accueillera bientôt, et avec fierté, les dangereuses personnes – femmes et enfants … Continuer la lecture →