Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
Policeman on trial in Belgium over shooting death of two-year-old refugee
A man wears a protective face mask as he attends a solidarity event for Mawda Shawri at the courthouse in Brussels, Monday November 23rd 2020

A POLICEMAN went on trial for involuntary manslaughter in Belgium today for shooting a two-year-old refugee girl dead during a car chase.

Two others are on trial for human trafficking and dangerous driving in a case that rights campaigners say underlines the lethal consequences of criminalising irregular migration.

Kurdish toddler Mawda Shawri died after being shot in the head in May 2018 when the driver of the van she was travelling in through Belgium en route to Britain tried to escape from police trying to inspect it. The officer who shot her, who has not been named, states that the shot was fired to scare the van’s driver but the police car swerved, sending it astray. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Telling ‘Silk Road stories’ for a multipolar world
Features / 19 September 2025
19 September 2025

Morning Star editor BEN CHACKO reports from the start of Kunming’s Belt and Road media forum, where 200 journalists from 71 countries celebrated a new openness and optimism, forged by China’s enormous contribution to global development

Protesters marching in Epping, Essex after a temporary injunction that would have blocked asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel, was overturned at the Court of Appeal, August 31, 2025
Anti-Racism / 13 September 2025
13 September 2025

Morning Star editor BEN CHACKO reports on TUC Congress discussions on how to confront the far right and rebuild the left’s appeal to workers

Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC speaking at the TUC congress at the ACC Liverpool. Picture date: Monday September 11, 2023
Workers' Rights / 10 September 2025
10 September 2025
Similar stories
Books / 5 April 2025
5 April 2025
ANDY HEDGECOCK welcomes an explanation of genocide by the persecuted author that is both uplifting and important
Suspended Israeli MP Ofer Cassif speaks at the Marx Memorial
Features / 24 November 2024
24 November 2024
OFER CASSIF, a communist member of Israel's Knesset suspended for calling out genocide, discusses war, ethnic cleansing and worsening repression by the violent, bigoted regime in Tel Aviv
Helen Lumuanganu the mother of Chris Kaba hugs friends along
Britain / 21 October 2024
21 October 2024
Campaigners outraged after cop who shot and killed Chris Kaba is cleared of murder