The Pregnant Woman Who Was Hit And Dragged On The Floor By Dutch Police Has Given Birth
"My wife told the officers that I would go with them voluntarily and respectfully," Mekdad said. "I had not hurt anyone. I had not used violence against other people."
The pregnant woman who was hit and dragged on the floor by Dutch police at an asylum seekers' center in the Netherlands, sparking outrage across Europe, has given birth.
The incident took place on the evening of May 19 at the COA asylum seekers' center (AZC) on Kampweg in Zeist, located near Utrecht, but footage of the confrontation only began circulating widely on May 30.
The videos showed an officer pushing the woman, causing her to fall backwards onto the floor.
Moments later, a man rushes toward the officers, and a physical confrontation breaks out.
Police officers are then seen dragging the woman across the floor while she remains on the floor.
The man in the video has been identified as 30-year-old Palestinian Wesam Mekdad from Gaza and the pregnant woman is his wife Malak Mahmoud from Syria.
Five days after the confrontation, the couple's daughter was born.
Dutch outlet Socialnieuws reported that the baby was born healthy.
A press release from Dutch police said the officers had arrested and later released Mekdad following reports of vandalism and threats involving a knife.
Speaking through the Instagram account Plant een Olijfboom (Plant an Olive Tree) and later to Socialnieuws Mekdad said the confrontation happened shortly after he learned that his brother had been killed in Gaza.
Mekdad said he became overwhelmed with grief and damaged property in his room, including a television, then the police arrived shortly afterwards.
"My wife told the officers that I would go with them voluntarily and respectfully," he said. "I had not hurt anyone. I had not used violence against other people."
Mahmoud said she approached officers to ask if she could stay with her husband while he was being detained.
"It felt as if my wife was being treated as if she posed a danger, even though she was heavily pregnant," Mekdad said.
Police said the videos circulating online show only "part of the event" and confirmed their use of force is under review, adding that investigators are examining all available evidence.
Mekdad said he no longer wanted to remain in the Netherlands.
You Might Also Be Interested In
Sofia Hou
Kassy Cho
