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 than two months.
The police came to take them at their place. They were handcuffed in front of their families and neighbours and placed in isolation celes in the police station, sometimes during 24 hours. They had to sign a paper while some could not even read French or Dutch. One of them signed without being allowed to read the text because the police had confiscated her glasses! The famous document confirmed that they had given their agreement to be brought to the closed centre and then be deported.
They came to Belgium several years ago to join their children and families, some of them having the Belgian nationality. Their families wanted them to live by their side and to be able to take care of them.
After several juridical steps, some got the order to leave the territory by the Foreigners Office: family gathering is not allowed for everyone, and never mind if families are dispersed.
A 65 years old woman, blind, introduced a 9ter regularisation request(for medical reasons) that was refused after an identification issue! In spite of this, she is being threatened of deportation in the coming days, although there is this identification problem! On the other hand, since she’s been detained, she does not get the eye drops she needs anymore.
Here is what they tell us:
« They came to take me at my daughter’s. They handcuffed me and brought me in a police van in front of my family and all the neighbours. Such a shame…”
« I stayed for 24 hours in the isoldation cell and was insulted all night. »
« They refused to give me my medicine although I have to take it every 4 hours. »
« They confiscated my glasses.»
« I was arrested for the first time of my life. »
At the 127 bis they are astounded and petrified. They do not want to speak about their retention conditions. As soon as they are asked the question, they turn aside.
It is impossible to get a phone interview:
« I don’t want them to find me on the internet, I want to remain anonymous otherwise i’ll be in trouble in DRC, I must remain anonymous.”
They don’t want to stay there anymore, they are asking to be released or deported. They can not stand prison anymore.
« I don’t want to spend another day here, it is torture. »
« I don’t want to be locked up, I’ve never been in prison »
« We are all very shocked.»
Besides, they would not dare to request asylum even though they have good reasons to do so.
« If I request asylum, I will stay locked up here. Then, Belgium will refuse, and just like most Congolese, they will send me back to Congo where I’ll be imprisoned and may be killed because I requested asylum.”.
