‘Worse than a prison‘: a visitor’s testimony at Bruges’ closed centre 

24 January

We bring here the testimony of a visitor who recently visited the Bruges closed centre and tells us about the deplorable conditions of detention, the lack of privacy, and the tense atmosphere. She also reports to us that a 15-year-old boy is detained at the centre. 

” I was at the Bruges detention centre today. I hadn’t been there for a long time. The situation there is more disturbing than ever. 

I had left a plastic bag for someone who was to be deported the next day, containing a smartphone and toothpaste. The toothpaste was refused…. I then signed a paper that had ‘palstic bag’ written on it, with no mention with what exactly it contained. I had this corrected by a very friendly young woman, who eventually accepted the toothpaste on my way out. Then, despite stepping through the metal detector without any problems, I was searched from head to toe (the inside of my socks, sleeves, etc). I was then taken to the visitors’ area by two guards. Each door was locked before I could enter the next one. It is worse than a prison.

The conditions of detention are intolerable. Detainees sleep in a large room in staple beds. There is no privacy. They are forced to get up at 8 a.m. and the lights are switched off at 10 p.m., with no opportunity to do anything. Everything is controlled and timed. 

I heard that a very young boy (about 15 years old) was detained at the centre. However, he has papers clarifying that he is a minor and showing his date of birth. Moreover, he looks physically very young. He was taken away from the family where he was staying because certain medical tests (which are scientifically contested) showed that he is over 18. I spoke to the boy on the phone after my visit and contacted his foster family who will visit him this weekend. Fortunately, the boy has a lawyer, but he is overworked…. “

Anyway: what a country we live in!