For several months now, we have been witnessing collective and individual hunger strikes by people detained in several detention centres¹.
These hunger strikes usually end in clear repression by the Immigration Office: rapid deportation or transfer to another detention centre.
Here is one case among many: 30 days on hunger strike!
Mr A. was arrested in Liège: on 4 February, a police officer came to his house to take him to the police station, supposedly to ‘sort out an administrative problem’. As soon as he arrived at the police station, he was arrested and taken to the 127bis detention centre in Steenokkerzeel. However, he has a residence permit that was valid until June 2026 and that is renewable.
On the first day of his detention, in protest against it, Mr A. began a hunger strike. At the start of the strike, the centre’s staff tried to get him to sign a document stating that he accepted responsibility for his actions:
I took the paper and wrote: ‘You are responsible for everything that happens to me.’
The doctor said, “You’re going to regret what you’ve written”.I’m leaving here free or I’m leaving here dead.
They say I’m a danger. To whom? For what?
Yesterday, I fainted and my heart rate rose to 230.
They don’t care.
A. lived in France for several years, where he organised combat sports training, which earned him several cup victories. Following a minor conviction in France, he received an OQTF (order to leave French territory) and migrated to Belgium. He has since been living in Liège, where he is married. After a ‘turbulent’ visit (according to the guards) from a friend, he was transferred to the Merksplas detention centre and placed in medical isolation. He is currently on a 30-day hunger strike and is extremely weak: he has lost 15 kilos. An outside doctor came to visit him. He confirmed the deterioration of A.’s health and recommended that the centre’s staff take him to hospital.
He tells us: ‘What human rights are there here? I’m surrounded by barbed wire, it’s as if I’ve killed someone.’
This man is in danger and we demand his immediate release. His release, but also that of all the other people detained in these death centres!
DOWN WITH DETENTION CENTRES
DOWN WITH THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE
DOWN WITH THE BELGIAN STATE
SOLIDARITY WITH DETAINEES
