An illegal immigrant expelled “like a dog”

21/07/2009 / SPAIN

An illegal immigrant expelled “like a dog”

Lamine Mbengue was waiting for his transfer plane in Madrid airport when he witnessed an illegal immigrant being tied up by the police and forced onto a plane bound for Dakar. The scene shocked him so much that he took out his digital camera and recorded it. Now, the images are making their way round the world.

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Contributors

Lamine Mbengue

M2o

“He’s not a dog!”

Madrid airport, June 15, 2009. Footage filmed by Lamine Mbengue. One of the passengers watching shouts "He's not a dog!"

“The fact that he was black is not the point”

Lamine Mbengue is a children's entertainer and musician. He also runs a production company, Senegaaltv.

From where I was filming the police couldn't see me. I don't know what the immigrant said to the police, but it wasn't in a violent manner. He was just refusing to get on the plane. The police tied his feet and hands together and put tape over his mouth. At one point we clearly see one of the officers stamp on his face.

The fact that he was black is not the point. There were Spanish people, French people and Senegalese people around me and all of them were indignant about what was going on. Personally I'm against illegal immigration and believe that people should stay in their own country in order for it to develop. But no human being can do what they did.

I filmed it to bear witness. People can decide themselves what to make of it. The footage has already made a big impact. Both the Spanish and Senegalese media have picked up the video, which has lead to diplomatic repercussions. The Senegalese justice minister invited me to see him and publicly declared that I had his protection. He also told me that he would be filing a case against the officers involved [for inhumane and degrading acts].

The video's also being used by NGOs who work with immigrants. Amnesty International, for example, has published it on their website. For them it's a crucial document - it's the first time we've seen, so clearly, such an explusion.

The story isn't over. It's encouraging people to speak out. I'm still receiving phone calls from immigrants who want to talk about how they were victimised."

Lamine Mbengue

Senegal
Musician and children's storyteller

“This immigrant was treated like an animal on its way to the slaughterhouse”

Moussa Oumar (M2o), a student in Dakar, alerted us to this video.

We haven't stopped talking about this since the story emerged. We're really shocked by it. This immigrant was treated like an animal on its way to the slaughterhouse. Or worse, seeing as his hands and feet were tied. For a human being to do that is simply inadmissible. It makes me think about racism abroad, especially in Europe - something which Senegalese people, and Africans in general, are the victims of."

M2o

Senegal
Eleve

Comments

Immigrant

Submitted by roy (not verified) on Thu, 13/08/2009 - 18:26.

If you respect the law in most western places they respect you. The poeple complaining here have probably never worked in security. I have. The force being used in this video does not appear excessive. They retsrained him because he resisted. They restrained his hands and feet as he was using both. They writer says he is gagged, but my guess is that they did that beacuse he was trying to bite. It is sad to see, yes, but "bruatlity" it is not. Some poeple do not respond to words and force must be used.

Unregistered user

why would they stamp his

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 19/08/2009 - 05:28.

why would they stamp his face then.?

Unregistered user

Is it the human rights they called?!

Submitted by atifkoko on Wed, 29/07/2009 - 21:40.

Actually, this view is a phenomenon here in Europe, this is the real face of those whom considered themselves a human rights keeper. You said in the title the fact that he was black is not the point, but i think that is the main point. Actually, if i didn't saw the video and read the story of that human being, i really will think that was an animal on its way to the slaughterhouse.

atifkoko

Greece
Blogger

I watched the video and its

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 27/07/2009 - 14:04.

I watched the video and its pretty clear they didnt hurt him,It seems the ppl crying on here are trying to make a big deal out of it for political reasons

Unregistered user

It is not policing! it isnot policing ...what they di!....

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 23/07/2009 - 10:36.

It is really depressed me,i had never expect people who know about policing especially a public and immigrants can do so!,,,,their action is like a maletia fighting with another maletia....this is preview for all immigrants and policing and expect it will not happen again in the world.

Unregistered user

I really don't see the issue

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 22/07/2009 - 14:22.

I really don't see the issue here. An illegal immigrant resists arrest and is restrained so they can get him onto the plane. I fail to see that as excessive force. It's not like they roughed him up and knocked him out cold to make him docile or anything. The insect hurting comment below is actually quite apt in that regard, because this equates to capturing one and letting it loose outside instead of smashing it with a newspaper, something few people would bother with. This "outrage" is ridiculous.

Unregistered user

you compare acceptable treatment of a man to that of a bug ?

Submitted by Lo (not verified) on Thu, 23/07/2009 - 00:16.

The restraint was excessive. The man was tied roughly into an unnatural and painful position, and is handled brutally by several officers. Although the policemen's job must be far from easy, it is no excuse for treating a human being like they did. But perhaps it isn't strong enough for you: you might have preferred them to shoot him like a bug is "smashed with a newspaper", if I read you well ?

Unregistered user

"you compare acceptable

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Tue, 28/07/2009 - 22:48.

"you compare acceptable treatment of a man to that of a bug?"

Criminals deserve no less.

Unregistered user

TO Konneh Mohamed, Help

Submitted by Jr (not verified) on Wed, 22/07/2009 - 13:51.

TO Konneh Mohamed, Help University college, Malaysia

NOW that's just hilarious coming from a Muslim of Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — An Islamic court in Malaysia has sentenced a Muslim woman to be flogged with a rattan cane for having a beer in a nightclub, a court official said Tuesday.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyNuCwSdoGBSByVGSqmd8G...

Spare us with the human rights lectures.

Unregistered user