Closure Brussels Beguinage Church Camp Afghan Refugees | 20220108 | 1-memo•com |
After a silent protest march by Afghan asylum seekers and Belgians November 2013 into Brussels, the hundreds of Afghan refugees – children, women, men – set up a makeshift tent camp inside the Brussels’ Beguinage church. March 2014 , the women and children have found refugee elsewhere in the city, but the men stay. Early April 2014 it is decided, that April 15th everyone who sleeps here will be kicked out.
Reportage from the Beguinage church made by Michel van der Burg, April 7, 2014 interviewing the Belgian journalist Greet Verhaert and Afghan refugee Kamran – temporary resident of the camp. @HouseofCompassionBrussels

Closure Brussels Beguinage Church Camp Afghan Refugees | 20220108 | Reportage April 7, 2014 by Michel van der Burg with interviews of Greet Verhaert, and Kamran | Beguinage Project report by Kristen Cattell & Michel van der Burg | Miracles.Media

TAGS #Afghan #asylum #Brussels #Beguinage #church #refugee #camp #tent #Belgium #undocumented #sanspapiers #war #interview #reportage #street #justice #rights #BeguinageChurch #GreetVerhaert #KristenCattell #BeguinageProject #1Memo #michelvanderburg #MiraclesMedia #HouseofCompassion #hoc

Some Links

Afghans & Belgians « We want justice » EN & FR & NL | 20131130 https://youtu.be/Ur3JHnC2AmE

Samir Hamdard ~ Afghan Refugee Camp Brussels Beguinage Church | 20200729 https://youtu.be/W4-Pcx3q98I

Kids Parlement | Children’s Day | 20211120
https://youtu.be/Evlp_n_8IkU

JR Groninger Show Afghan Refugees Inside Out | 20220107
https://youtu.be/HXnKJfB9DLo

EPILOGUE

Some days later – April 14th, 2014 – Greet reported to me the interview she had with the priest Daniël Alliët in the Beguinage church :

“The decision was made by the priest and the Kerkfabriek (Michel – Kerkfabriek translates to ~ the Church administration of the Beguinage church). In the interview priest Daniel explains in a more nuanced way – the causes, trigger, consequences, vision – why the Afghans have to leave the church tomorrow. At first glance, it seems like a decision with negative consequences (30 people become homeless). But in the long run, I think it’s a step in the right direction.
After all, Afghans are not simply thrown out on the street. The church factory is intensively looking for alternative sleeping places. And the protest against the asylum policy has not diminished at all, but has simply been organized differently.”