Amnesty International is concerned about the reported ill-treatment by German police of Tunisian asylum-seeker Makrem Ben Moussa, who was arrested on 4 May 1995 in the town of Oer-Erkenschwick in North-Rhine/Westphalia. He apparently threatened police officers with a knife as he reportedly feared detention and possible deportation. He then escaped onto the street but, he says, soon gave himself up to the pursuing officers. The police allege that he did not give himself up but took a passer-by hostage, who managed to get away. Makrem Ben Moussa was allegedly beaten by the police after they recaptured him. Makrem Ben Moussa is currently in pre-expulsion detention after escaping from the psychiatric ward of St Laurentious Hospital. AI is calling for the allegations of ill-treatment to be investigated.
