GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer and MEP Alda Sousa visited Afghan refugees this morning at the Béguinage church in the Sainte-Catherine area of Brussels.

The group of approximately 200 refugees have been residing in the church for two months now and are campaigning for their right to remain in Belgium.

“You have our solidarity and support and we will do our utmost to bring this to the attention of as many MEPs as possible in the European Parliament,” Gabi Zimmer told the group of refugees. “There is no such thing as justice if we don't show solidarity with people outside the EU.”

President Zimmer also announced that the GUE/NGL would send an official letter to the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Maggie De Block.

Alda Sousa said: “No person is illegal! Our group fights for equal rights for all. Afghanistan is not a safe country and it is unacceptable to deport refugees there. Europe was built on solidarity so we need to start showing it.”

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
David Lundy +32 470 85 05 09
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
European United Left / Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group