HUNGER STRIKE BY WOMEN AT THE BRUGES DETENTION CENTRE

A woman who has been detained at the Bruges detention centre for several months was due to be deported for the sixth time on Saturday 5 October. Her fellow inmates were very worried about the deportation and called for support. As they had no news of F. after the scheduled flight, they went on hunger strike on Sunday 6 October in protest at the lack of information about F.’s situation, demanding to know what had happened to her. Since then, dozens of guards have been assigned to watch the women at the centre and listen in on their conversations. At the same time, the guards claim that F. has been deported back to Ghana, and that she is safe and well.

However, according to a passenger on the flight, F. was not on the plane she was supposed to take on Saturday 5 October to Lomé (Togo) and Accra (Ghana). However, she was definitely at Zaventem airport, because a witness at the police station saw her and heard her screaming and crying in a cell, calling for help. There was so much concern that her lawyer was about to issue a missing person’s report.

On Monday 7 October, F. phoned us from Accra. She had indeed been deported, having suffered the usual violence (strapping, restraining belts and handcuffs) and death threats. We still do not know on which flight she was taken by force.

In solidarity with the inmates of the Bruges detention centre and with Mrs F.!

#StopDeportations