Belgium’s hunger strikers obtain temporary residence

28 July 2008

BELGIUM – Thirty nine illegals who had gone on hunger strike in a church in the Brussels borough of Vorst have suspended their protest.

The Belgian Immigration department has granted the 39 immigrants a temporary residence permit valid for a period of three months.

The permits have been issued for medical reasons and can be extended.

Belgium’s Forum for Asylum and Migration is pleased with this development, but is pressing for structural measures and a legal framework to help refugees who find themselves in a similar situation.

Iranians come down
Elsewhere in the capital, on a building site in Sint-Joost, two Iranians who had taken their protest to the top of a crane have also ended their action.

The two remaining Iranians climbed down on Saturday night after spending four nights. They were in poor health and have been taken to the hospital.

They had been demanding a residence permit valid for nine months. It is unclear whether any concessions have been made.

[flandersnews.be / Expatica]

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