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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“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."  

“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."

“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!"