3-Year-Old Dies in Belgium: Father Arrested on Suspicion of Murder and Abuse

The child was found lifeless by the emergency services on Saturday. Resuscitation attempts were in vain, the local press reports. Wassim was buried in the Muslim section of Habay-la-Vieille.

Mohammed, 29, Wassim’s father, was arrested and placed in pre-trial detention. The Moroccan is suspected of particularly atrocious crimes. The charges include intentional assault and battery, deprivation of care or food, and murder.

During the funeral, white balloons were released by the mothers of the small town. The ceremony was attended by about a hundred people. The mayor of Habay, Serge Bodeux, was also present. Wassim’s grandfather, Yvon Sondag, almost in his nineties and a peace activist, expressed his sadness during the ceremony. Wassim’s grandmother briefly spoke near the coffin: "There are no words. [...] Thank you all."

Mohamed-Wassim Taoussi’s life would have become a hell after the loss of his mother in February. The young woman died in a car accident. Since then, the toddler would have been mistreated and starved by his father.