Algeria has expressed grave concern over the death of an Algerian man outside a cafe in the Belgian city of Antwerp after an officer knelt on his back.
The footage shared on social media drew parallels with the case of George Floyd, who died in May after a police officer knelt on his neck during his arrest in the United States.
Algeria insists on the need to shed light on the death of the Algerian national, Kadri Abderrahmane Ridha, aka Akram, on July 19, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
It affirmed that its diplomatic and consular representatives in Brussels have been on regular contact with the family of the deceased and the administrative, police and judicial authorities in Belgium since the incident.
The case is followed-up closely by Algeria’s higher authorities, the statement added, noting that instructions have been given to the Algerian embassy and consulate general in Brussels to provide all the necessary assistance and support to Akram’s family and accompany them in this painful ordeal.
It pointed out that the course of the probe will be pursued to clarify all the circumstances of the incident, which has sparked anger in Belgium, especially among Algerian immigrants, many of whom considered Akram’s death as an act of “racism” and “practice that reflects foreign xenophobia.”
Akram, 29, had been residing with his mother in Belgium.
He was seen in footage posted online handcuffed to the ground before paramedics arrived to resuscitate the unresponsive man.
Algeria’s ambassador to Brussels Amar Belani told local media on Monday that certain elements in the case must be clarified.
He stressed that the video footage, along with the autopsy results, will “hopefully” clarify matters.
The Belgian police arrested on Wednesday a 16-year-old Algerian, who called for demonstrations on social media to protest Akram’s killing.
