"Tortured in the 'Saewookkeokgi' Position"...Foreign Detention Center Says It Was to Prevent Self-Harm"

Victim's Side: "Clear Torture"
Detention Center: "Continuous Violence Against Staff and Self-Harm Attempts Led to Minimal Measures"

On the 28th, a Moroccan refugee applicant in his 30s, who was quarantined at the Hwaseong Foreigners Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province, claimed to have been tortured in a shrimp-cracking position.
Photo by MBC

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Allegations have been raised that a foreign detainee isolated at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in Gyeonggi was subjected to harsh treatment, including being restrained with wrists and both feet tied behind the back and forced into a "shrimp-bending" posture that twists the body like a shrimp's back.

According to media reports on the 28th, the side of Mr. A, a Moroccan national in his 30s, submitted a petition to the National Human Rights Commission at the end of June, claiming that he was subjected to harsh treatment by staff while detained at the center in June.

The immigration detention center is a facility where foreigners who have received deportation orders stay temporarily within the country until they are repatriated to their home countries. Mr. A was detained at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center after receiving a deportation order in March. During his stay, he frequently clashed with staff by requesting hospital treatment or raising issues about the poor conditions of the center. Subsequently, Mr. A claims he was confined in a "special management room" and suffered human rights violations such as having his limbs bound by staff.

In fact, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained by Mr. A’s side shows that on June 8th and 10th, over two days, he was restrained in the "shrimp-bending" posture three times, sometimes for as long as three hours.

The immigration detention center stated that these measures were unavoidable because Mr. A continuously caused problems by demanding external hospital treatment and using violence. They explained that he tore iron bars to threaten staff, peeled off wallpaper, banged his head against iron doors, and even attempted self-harm by breaking glass, leaving no other choice.

Gil Kang-muk, director of Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center, said in an interview with MBC on the 28th, "Binding the movements of the hands and feet was a minimal measure," adding, "The purpose was entirely to protect this person's life and physical safety."

On the 28th, a Moroccan refugee applicant in his 30s, who was quarantined at the Hwaseong Foreigners' Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province, claimed to have been tortured in a shrimp-breaking position.
Photo by MBC

The immigration detention center also explained that the equipment placed on Mr. A’s head was official head protection gear.

However, Mr. A’s side filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, arguing that wrapping tape around the headgear was a clear act of torture by the immigration detention center. Mr. Lee Han-jae, Mr. A’s attorney, said in an interview with MBC on the 28th, "Items like 'cable ties' or 'box tape' are illegal tools not even stipulated in regulations," and added, "They are used on people only in extreme situations such as prisoners of war."

Meanwhile, the immigration detention center has filed a police complaint against Mr. A on charges including obstruction of official duties.