Call to support the family of Tamazi R. who died in a closed centre on 15 February 2023

[EN & NL below]

In the Merksplas closed centre, Tamazi R., 38, a Kurdish father of Georgian origin, died on 15 February after having been on hunger strike for several days. He rightly feared being returned to Georgia, a country in which he had been subjected to numerous acts of torture denounced by the Georgian human rights NGO _Human Rights Center_*. France had refused his return to French territory, even though Tamazi had been living there for several years with his family. Since his death, his wife and daughter have been fighting to learn the truth about the circumstances of his death, in order to obtain justice.

On 16 July, Mediapart* published an investigation into Tamazi’s death and the family’s fight for the truth. The article recounts Tamazi’s background and raises questions about the circumstances of his death, calling into question the version communicated by the Belgian Office of the Aliens, which reported a "death of natural causes" just two days after his passing. While this case is surrounded by great opacity, some revelations in the article seriously cast doubt on the official account of the Office of the Aliens.

Thanks to the determination of Tamazi’s family, who filed a complaint with civil-party status, an inquiry is now under way. But their struggle is only beginning. The costs related to Tamazi’s death and to the complaint lodged by his family are considerable and represent a real obstacle both to the grieving process and to the search for the truth.

This fundraiser was launched at the initiative of several supporters of the family and with the family’s agreement. Its purpose is to support the family in all administrative and legal procedures as well as in their fight for truth and justice.

No account creation or registration is necessary — it’s quick and card payments are 100% secure.

#JusticePourTamazi

Contact: [email protected]



* A closed centre is a prison where migrants are held administratively with a view to their expulsion from Belgian territory. Closed centres are the equivalent of CRAs (Centres de Rétention Administrative) in France. Belgium is regularly criticised by human rights organisations for the conditions of detention and expulsion of foreign nationals. It has also been condemned several times by the European Court of Human Rights, notably for failing to comply with Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (which prohibits the use of torture and any inhuman or degrading treatment) and for failing to comply with Article 8 of the same Convention, relating to respect for private and family life (for example when husbands, wives and children are separated in the centres or when detainees are not allowed to see or communicate with their relatives). Many detainees and former detainees testify daily to the humiliations and the violence suffered in the country's various closed centres.

** http://www.humanrights.ge/index.php?a=main&pid=16848&lang=eng

* https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/160723/tamazi-mort-en-retention-le-combat-pour-la-verite-d-une-famille-de-refugies. This article was also relayed by https://www.apache.be/2023/07/17/koerdische-dissident-gestorven-verdachte-omstandigheden-gesloten-centrum and https://auvio.rtbf.be/media/declic-les-sequences-lactu-du-jour-enquete-mediapart-sur-sur-la-mort-dun-homme-georgien-dans-le-centre-ferme-de-merksplas-le-15-fevrier-2023-3061465.