About 100 undocumented migrants live in the St. John the Baptist church. Some have to call this place their ‘home’ for 11 months. The Belgian government has closed their cases. Since months. Out of hopelessness, a lot of the undocumented people living inside the church saw no other option than to go on a hunger strike. A hunger strike that lasted more than two months.

It forced the Belgian government to reopen several cases. Little by little, the inhabitants began to regain hope. Something to hold on to. After about three months of waiting suddenly all residents of the church, a week before these photos were taken, received a new ruling on their case. Turned down. All of them.

Sabah, a Moroccan occupant from Casablanca, has been staying in the church since the start of the occupancy. Throughout those months she had the responsibility of night-guard. Ensuring that no unwanted visitors enter the church at night. “An important and valuable task”, she says while showing all the blankets she uses at night to keep her warm. She only slept four hours a night for months.” 

Momen. an elderly Moroccan man, who came to Belgium 32 years ago. Worked all of those years in Belgium on temporary papers. Had an income and bills to pay. Suddenly lost his job and because of financial reasons wanted to go back to Morocco. But because of not having any legal papers he couldn’t leave the country.