Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Sammy Mahdi (CD&V) defends the rapid handling of files of the undocumented migrants who ended their hunger strike a few days ago. “If that’s what we have to do to end the hunger strike, then I’m ready to do it,” the state secretary said in the House on Friday.
–
An exchange of views was scheduled in the competent House Committee on the hunger strike, which for the most part ended on 21 July, after about 60 days. Mahdi repeated that he has always been consistent in his communication to the hunger strikers and to the organization around them. There will be no collective regularization, but also no concessions or agreements under the table, it was said. He indicated, for example, that during the talks that envoy Dirk Van den Bulck had with the activists, he was occasionally asked whether he “cannot do this or that. The answer was always: ‘no’”, according to the State Secretary.
A lot of energy has gone into explaining the policy in recent weeks – a policy that is “humane”. “I have said that we are humane, were humane and will remain humane,” emphasized the state secretary. He also noted that elements such as length of stay, family ties or ties with our country are always taken into account when processing applications for regularization for humanitarian reasons (the so-called 9bis). “All elements are always taken into account, with one element outweighing the other, but it is always about the whole of elements.”
ALSO READ. Mahdi must close neutral zone to all but hunger strikers after major surprise
He confirmed that the hunger strikers’ files will be dealt with as soon as possible. “Priority audiences have always been there,” Mahdi explained. “If that’s what we need to do to end the hunger strike, then I’m willing to do it.” In contrast to registering criteria in the law, a collective regularization, stopping the fee, temporary solutions, and so on.
It is clear to opposition parties N-VA and Vlaams Belang that the hunger strikers receive preferential treatment. Theo Francken (N-VA) pointed out, among other things, the faster processing of their files, but also the way in which they are treated via the neutral zone. Francken also wants hunger strikers to be put on a blacklist for regularization from now on. “That blackmail has to stop.”
Francken also wants an investigation into the sewing of mouths of hunger strikers. The CD&V state secretary replied that this is not his authority, but called it “vengeful” in his personal name and “not nice to see that people have sewn their mouths shut, have encouraged that or helped with that.”
Mahdi also emphasized that regularization is never an answer to the fight against undeclared work. “Unfortunately, there are rogue employers who want to exploit people, and we have to tackle them very hard. The same applies to slum landlords,” said the state secretary. “Some ask how it is possible that people can stay here illegally for years. Because some facilitate that.”
– .
