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Belgium: death in custody

01 January 1991

Belgium: death in custody
artdoc November=1994

Campaigners demand independent inquiry into death in custody

The Ghana Welfare Organisation is demanding an independent
inquiry into the death of a Ghanaian man in police custody.
Peter Quarson was arrested on 10 July 1994 by police in
Borgerhout, Anvers. While in custody, he went into a coma from
which he never regained consciousness. Police say he suffered
an epileptic fit but, apparently, a doctor's note included the
words I violent death'. The authorities have refused to
authorise an autopsy.
Immigrant organisations believe there has been a cover-up
of the true circumstances of Quarson's death and are now becoming
more outspoken about racism in the Anvers area. On New Year's
Day, a 36-year-old Algerian was seriously injured by racists.
And a refugee from Zaire, Kayembe Kabasale, has accused prison
officers of breaking his arm and wounding him in the eye in an
incident that took place on 18 January. On 26 January, 250
Ghanaians, shouting "Justice for Peter Quarson", demonstrated
outside Anvers police station (Solidaire 1.2.95, De Morgen
5.1.95).

Moroccan claims assault by Charleroi police

Hassan Bentakhou, a young Moroccan, is to make a formal complaint
against the police after he says he was assaulted in Charleroi.
On 14 January, Mr Hassan was in the Charleroi shopping
centre looking for a cash point. For no apparent reason he was
set upon by police officers, who kicked and beat him and held him
in a headlock so severe that he was almost strangled. The police
say it was a case of mistaken identity (Solidaire 1.2.95).

IRR European Race Audit, no 13, April 1995. Contact: Liz Fekete,
Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS.
Tel: 0171 837 0041