2. Physical Violence Physical violence is defined as the use of excessive and disproportionate force and takes multiple specific forms in the context of state violence against detained people on the move. While nearly 60% of testimonies across Greece referred to the use of physical violence, BVMN has identified specific trends from the data that will be analysed in this report. In particular: i) the use of isolation to conceal acts of abuse in PRDCs, ii) the use of Electric Discharge Weapons (EDWs) in PRDCs, iii) the use of physical violence against transit groups arriving on Samos and finally, iv) the use of physical violence in quarantine zones in the Samos CCAC. 2.1 Mainland Greece 2.1.1 The Use of Isolation 24% of detained persons held on the mainland across four different PRDCs (Amygdaleza, Paranesti, Corinth and Petrou Ralli) described specific tactics of physical abuse paired with isolation as a form of punishment for perceived ‘bad behaviour’. This has been consistently reported by BVMN, where testimonies indicate that any form of speaking out against inhuman treatment is often met with excessive violence to exert further control over detained persons. Respondents specifically referred to the use of isolation in spaces hidden from the view of others, to further enable incidents of abuse. detained persons describe various spaces for isolation, including quarantine areas, dark rooms and isolated cells. Often, they are left for periods of time without access to a toilet, a bed or natural light. A respondent detained in Amygdaleza explained “If somebody does something inside, they take him outside. They take his phone, put him in a cell by themselves, and they treat him badly” (Respondent 2). The same respondent further stated that if conflict arises between detained persons, the individuals accused of initiating it are taken and separated into two cells. They are deprived of food, have their phones confiscated and are held like this for up to two months. The respondent also noted that the time in solitary confinement is not counted by the PRDC authorities as part of the total maximum detention period. Similarly, a detained person from Paranesti recalled: “If you fight, if the police see you on the cameras, they come, they take you away, they beat you and detain you for 1-2 days, then they put you back in your cell” (Respondent 13). 7 Corinth PRDC Corinth PRDC