A young queer asylum seeker from Morocco is recovering after being brutally assaulted last Thursday evening at the asylum seekers' center (AZC) in Budel. The incident, which is now being investigated as attempted manslaughter, has cast a harsh spotlight on the safety of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Dutch asylum system and on allegations of severe negligence by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).
The attack occurred around 10:00 PM outside one of the residential units. According to eyewitnesses, a dispute over cigarettes escalated horrifically. The victim was knocked unconscious, after which the attacker repeatedly and forcefully kicked him in the head as he lay defenseless on the ground. Video footage of the assault is in the possession of the advocacy group LGBT Asylum Support.
The victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital in an unconscious state. He was discharged on Saturday afternoon with a swollen face, multiple bruises, abrasions, and a severe concussion. Sources close to him report he is in poor physical and mental condition and is not currently receiving specialized trauma support.
A History of Ignored Threats
Advocates and fellow residents state that this violent outburst was not an isolated event. The alleged perpetrator had reportedly been systematically harassing, extorting, and threatening the LGBTQ+ residents in the building for a significant period. Despite numerous formal complaints being filed with the COA, residents say no effective measures were taken to intervene or ensure their safety, allowing tensions to build to a breaking point.
The victim's vulnerability was known to authorities long before the attack. He was previously transferred from the specific LGBTQ+ unit in Ter Apel. Upon arrival in Budel, the COA placed him in a general population unit where he was assaulted on his first day. That initial incident was reportedly dismissed by the COA as a "mutual quarrel." Following this, the LGBTQ+ residents were housed together in an overcrowded room situated directly next to their alleged tormentors, a situation they described as living in constant fear.
Calls for Accountability
"The videos are horrific. The perpetrator kicks him with full force in the head, despite the presence of security," said Sandro Kortekaas, chairman of LGBT Asylum Support. "This victim was declared fair game from day one. The COA knew this perpetrator posed an acute danger but looked away."
Kortekaas's organization is demanding action from the highest levels of the reception agency. "We demand immediate accountability from the COA board. This is gross, official negligence with a nearly fatal outcome."
The case has been escalated to the COA's national management level, and a criminal lawyer has been retained to represent the victim. The investigation into the attempted manslaughter charge is ongoing.
