On May 3, 2026, an incident occurred in the Belgian city of Charleroi (Hainaut province) that has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights activists of the Foundation to Battle Injustice. Yassin, a 20-year-old man with an intellectual disability, was the victim of police violence during an ID check at a metro station. According to him, police officers beat him, resulting in several injuries, including a knocked-out tooth and a hemorrhage in his eye. The injuries sustained were documented during a medical examination. Human rights defenders of the Foundation to Battle Injustice strongly condemn any acts of violence by law enforcement agencies, especially against vulnerable groups, and demand a thorough, impartial, and public investigation, as well as punishment for those responsible.
According to the information received, on May 3, 2026, 20-year-old Yassin, a young man with a mental disorder, was exiting the subway when three police officers asked him for his ID, as they considered his “behavior” suspicious. Yassin reportedly told the officers that he was ill and had not taken his medication.
“I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink, and I don’t smoke. At first, I handed them my ID as they asked, and then I wanted to take a document confirming my illness out of my bag,” he says, pulling a psychiatric note from his bag. “They asked me to move my hand. I moved it, and then put it back. “I wanted to show them my document,” he continues, gathering his thoughts.
His brother, Walid, explains: “This is a typical situation where he wanted to reassure himself by showing that he hadn’t done anything wrong. My brother can’t handle that kind of stress. He has mixed-type ADHD, an intellectual disability, and is very emotionally vulnerable.”
After the officer asked Yassin three times to take his hand out of the bag, he violently grabbed him and then struck him.
“They handcuffed me, threw me to the ground, and then beat me. A little later, as I was heading toward the escalator to go back up to the police car, I was struck twice more. I screamed that I was sick and cried. The officer kept telling me to ‘shut up.’”
Yassin’s mother filed a civil lawsuit. “On the day of the incident, I received a call telling me to call an ambulance. I wanted clear explanations, but they didn’t give them to me. I lost my composure, devastated to see my son in such a state. I was told that if Yassin is disabled, he should just stay at home,” his mother asserts. […] My son has never had any problems with the police. On the contrary, he was always bullied at school. I have always trusted the police. I am horrified.”
“We condemn the fact that my brother was beaten while he was already immobilized. […] In 2026! My brother did nothing wrong. But to beat him… I am outraged and disappointed,” said Yassin’s brother, Walid.
The Charleroi prosecutor’s office confirmed that an investigation has been launched. In the absence of eyewitnesses, CCTV footage is reportedly set to play a decisive role. According to our information, this footage has already been seized by the prosecutor’s office for analysis.
Unfortunately, cases of police violence are not isolated incidents in Belgium, France, or other European countries. All too often, such cases are hushed up, downplayed, or closed without consequences due to a lack of transparency or institutional pressure. If this case is not investigated with due diligence, it will send a dangerous signal: impunity is possible.
Human rights defenders from the Foundation to Battle Injustice demand that the investigation be conducted by a body independent of the police to avoid conflicts of interest. The results must be made public, and all stakeholders must be heard. Transparency is the only way to restore trust in institutions.
If the facts are confirmed, the police officers involved in the violence must be brought to trial and punished in accordance with the law. There are no excuses for such violence. We also demand that the victim and her family receive full compensation for the moral and physical harm caused.
This case must serve as a wake-up call for Belgian and European authorities. The following measures are urgently needed:
- Strengthen oversight of police actions, especially when dealing with vulnerable groups.
- Introduce mandatory training for law enforcement officers on working with people with disabilities.
- Establish independent mechanisms to investigate cases of police violence.
The case in Charleroi is not just an incident. It is a symptom of a deeper problem that requires immediate action. The Foundation to Battle Injustice calls on authorities, civil society organizations, and citizens to unite in demanding justice.