This is a "serious incident" that has just occurred in the center of Marseille administrative detention.
A Moroccan national, who was the subject of a deportation order,
attempted to commit suicide a few hours after being placed in an
isolation cell. The prosecutor of Marseilles has opened an investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
The Center's administrative detention Marseille Fatima Asfour, 39, is now in a critical condition. The Moroccan national, subject to an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF), had twice, 10 and July 18, tried to oppose his forced departure to the kingdom. Placed in the center of Marseille administrative detention, she was eventually to be expelled on July 31. Except that yesterday, Fatima has attempted suicide by chowing down on drugs in his isolation cell.
In the aftermath of the facts, his family is informed of his transfer to hospital. A "serious medical condition affecting the kidneys and liver, following ingestion of substances" is then diagnosed him, reports the daily Libération.
Abuse?
Association Forum for Refugees, specialized in the reception of asylum-seekers and refugees, Fatima has been abused by the staff of the detention center. "From about 19h, Ms. Asfour had called his family to say she was suffering from his solitary confinement of violent stomach pains, and to complain of violence by police intervened to control it, and to repeatedly placed a helmet on his head to protect it from blows she gave herself, "the association reported in a press release dated August 2.
But that's not all. "From a medical source, the wrists of Ms Asfour show signs of handcuffing, suggesting that it was tied into the cell, and his face showed bruises," the statement said. Fatima "was sent to the hospital (...) at 1am, 10 hours after his solitary confinement, and six hours after his call for help from his family. The testimonies of the relatives and the health of Mrs. Asfour, a vital diagnostic committed, suggest that ten hours was a long ordeal, "says the association.
Indignation lawyers Marseille
Refugee Forum was not the only one to step up. Lawyers to the Bar of Marseille expressed on Friday their "outrage at the fate that was reserved on 30 and 31 July 2012 to a Moroccan national (...) regardless of the consequences of health and humanitarian principles elementary, "said a statement signed by the barrister Jerome Gavaudan, relayed by AFP.
"The purpose of administrative detention does not authorize the use case of damage to the physical integrity of foreigners who are being" reminiscent of the lawyers. They have also called on authorities "to conduct an investigation to include, for entry and operation of video surveillance tapes, to determine responsibilities."
Alerted by Jerome Gavaudan, the prosecutor of Marseilles announced yesterday, Friday, Aug. 3, the opening of a preliminary investigation. The Inspector General of Police (IGPN), will take charge of the investigation. "I grabbed IGPN an investigation of these facts were not known to us before," said Deputy Prosecutor Jean-Jacques Fagni, told AFP. "I must be able to check all of these elements in order to identify the officials or police may be challenged and deciding on possible prosecutions," he added. Pending the results of the survey, Fatima has to undergo this Saturday for a liver transplant, the Conception Hospital in Marseilles.