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14 March 2007
BRUSSELS – Belgium is one of three EU countries that took aggressive action against defenders of human rights last year. This is contained in the annual report from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
The other two EU members named are Greece and Slovenia. Two incidents of violation of the freedom of assembly are cited for Belgium.
Manuel Lambert of the Belgian Human Rights League says that one of the violations involves a demonstration in Sint-Gillis in April 2006. The gathering of activists to support illegal immigrants was only permitted after heavy pressure from the League.
The second violation was the expulsion of asylum seekers from a church in Anderlecht in July 2006. The illegal immigrants went to the commissioner’s office to ask for an explanation, they were accompanied by members of non-governmental organisations and several MPs. The illegals were treated brutally by police. A complaint was filed against the mayor.
[Copyright Expatica News 2007]
Subject: Belgian news