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.?

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

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.

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.

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 ?

"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.

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.

I also find it amusing how

Submitted by Jr (not verified) on Wed, 22/07/2009 - 13:58.

I also find it amusing how you whine about the west and the way they used to treat the blacks.

Well GUESS what.. black SLAVERY is still happening and guess whose responsible??

'Thousands made slaves' in Darfur
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7786612.stm

Half a million African slaves are at the heart of Mauritania's presidential election
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/ghana/580...

I am terrified by what saw but can't still believe my eyes!

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 22/07/2009 - 11:21.

I strongly believe that there is an urgent need to redefine " Human right" mainly for Europeans. I am so confused and don't know why Europeans considered themselves to be part of the UN body and others top institutions around world if they don't know up to now the first thing about human? You have demonstrated to the entire world how petty-minded you are; how racist and how un-Godly you are.
However, have in minds that nothing in this world is perpectual only the Oneness of God. You are only doing all your can but our destinies (Black race)may only be delayed but will never be denied! 70 years ago, did you ever imagined if the USA, could ever elect a black president? You Never knew this, therefore keep cool and stay away from all malicious acts for you do not know what tomorrow holds.

Konneh Mohamed, Help University college, Malaysia

FEAR

Submitted by Unregistered user on Tue, 21/07/2009 - 20:18.

What I first felt when seeing this video was fear,
I can't imagine how a human can treat a human like this, it's even hard to hurt an insect,
I'm totally against illegal immigration, first because it's "illegal", second because it's a real humiliation when leaving your mother country to let the others treat you as a strange,
whatever was your situation in your country, there no one will ask you to leave,
We are all god creatures and each of us has to stop thinking he's the best only because he's white or because he was born in Europe, no one has chosen his origin, and each one has to be proud about what he did not about what he was given by the nature which is a gift from god whatever it was,
Occidental world are becoming a shame for humanity with their behavior, their hate for the others, it's enough
just think about the other as human neither as a color nor a religion nor a geographical origin,
just think that we are all complementary and we respond to the rules of the nature.

Resisting Deportation?

Submitted by Unregistered user on Wed, 22/07/2009 - 02:04.

What do you expect if you resist deportation and do not comply with the police? If you physically resist the police in any country you will face the consequences - I did not see the individual kicked or punched by any of the arresting officers - maybe the version of the video I observed was incomplete ?

Unprofessional Behaviour

Submitted by Unregistered user on Tue, 21/07/2009 - 18:47.

the ploice went over the top here.
he certainly was resisting his transfer to the plane but this is not a reason to use an excessive force to make him comply.

But you have to understand that the spanish police is really soft if you compare it to the french and I was surprised to hear some french people undignified with what they saw.
The french police can emprison you in horrible condition and they can beat you without impunity; even with your paper in order you hear some nasty comments here and there especially in orly.

My point is before making comments on situation like this you have to put your house in order and be sure that you're not doing the same thing.

The agents certainly needs decipline and has to be reprimended and I hope that the sinagalese goverment will pursue this case vigouroulsy at least to give this poor guy some form of justice.

This has been said , spanish people must remember that no long time ago they were mistreated in continental europe and must remember that their own reputation is at stake here.
The whole planet has a good idea about the french attitude and the french racism but spain has not been defined yet. please let us give a good impression.

what i just leaves me a nightmare!

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 22/07/2009 - 23:40.

immigrants wherever they are, are being treated inhumanly, i just saw images of somali student in malaysia being cut into peices over a dayniileonline website. it is horror, sameone might think of doing like that.
it is in here http://www.dayniile.com/Juli/Sawiro.htm