A Belgian child rights official has expressed outrage and sorrow following the death of 11-year-old Fabian, who was struck by a police vehicle in a Ganshoren park on Monday.
Solayman Laqdim, the Child Rights Delegate of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (also known as the French Community of Belgium), stated on RTBF’s La Première radio programme that Fabian’s basic rights were "clearly violated," and he did not need to wait for an investigation to confirm this.
Laqdim expressed deep concern about this incident, which he noted adds to a "long series" of similar tragic events, referencing the deaths of Mawda and Adil.
He cited numerous accounts of young children experiencing police violence, particularly those in transient situations or living in certain neighbourhoods, warning that “trust risks being broken.”
DGDE Solayman Laqdim pictured as the general delegate for child rights (DGDE) of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Wednesday 22 November 2023, in Brussels. Credit: Belga
Since taking up his position in February 2023, Laqdim has received approximately 20 reports of police violence against minors with three recurring themes.
First, the children are all from diverse backgrounds. Second, complaints don’t come directly from the children but from parents or bystanders, some of whom have filmed incidents, including one where a nine-year-old was pinned face-down. Third, none of these children face charges for criminal offences.
Laqdim emphasised that affected children are often discouraged from reporting incidents as they believe it is futile, a sentiment that past events unfortunately support.
He clarified that these children are not "against" the police but are frequently stigmatised during checks. The expert urged that police interventions should be proportional and tailored, stressing that minors should not be treated as adults due to their inherent vulnerability as children.
