The “commandos” took my friend’s mobile was around. But the truck driver was there. He phone. They did not ask him if he had any do- was in the truck, while the “commandos” were cuments. Now, my friend wants to go back to beating us. We were detained for five days. During our detention, we received some food: Afghanistan. I was taken to the Rio Hospital. Then I had to noodles with water. We were then transferred come back barefoot. I had no shoes anymore. I to Athens. I came back to Patras on foot. I had found some shoes while walking back to whe- to walk for three days.” re I’m staying, next to the train rails. My body was aching for a long time. Those of us who are Incident 2: trapped here, are the poorest, the youngest. It’s “One month ago we were at the traffic lights. been a year since I last saw my family. I’m trap- The police was hiding there. Three of us entered the truck. I guess the police made some ped.” signal to the truck driver, as he stopped in a remote area by the beach. Two police officers entered the truck. They were with their motorcycles. They beat us all with their batons. Then 68 they let us go. The truck driver was sitting in his seat and watching.” “It’s been two years since I arrived in Greece. I have not applied for asylum. I stayed in Athens Incident 3: for a couple of months and then I moved to Pat- “In the port, the “commandos” chase us on their ras. I can at least remember ten to eleven times motorcycles and hit us on purpose. Once I was I have been beaten by the police. Put yourself hiding underneath the truck. I did not hear any in my place. Imagine you eat from the garbage. sound or voice. All of a sudden, a police dog What hopes would have you, if you were stay- appeared next to me. It bit my calf and would ing in Patras? I only see death. I left Afghanis- not let go. I punched the dog, but would not let tan because my life was in danger. The police… it go. I was very afraid. The dog is terrifying! when I think of them, I only feel fear… fear… When it opens its mouth, it is so big and frighalways fear…! When I hear the sirens, I just tening. It makes a terrible sound, horrible. The “commando” had to cut my trousers with scisrun away to escape.” sors because the dog would not obey his commands. They then pulled the dog back and I Incident 1: “The worst beating occurred two months ago. came out. There were two “commandos” shouWe were ten persons hiding inside a refrige- ting at me: ‘kato kato!’ (down, down!). I had to rated truck. It was around 5pm. We were hi- sit with my head between my legs, looking at ding beneath some card boxes inside the truck. the ground. Then they started beating me up When the truck arrived inside the port, they with their batons. Maybe they were drunk. I started checking it. There were five “comman- could not understand. One of them pulled me dos”. They entered the truck. I was hidden in up, punched me and broke a tooth. Another the top, at two metres height. One of the “com- punch burst my lips. I could not eat any food mandos” caught me and dragged me down. I for two weeks. I was bleeding and this is why fell inside the truck. They handcuffed me on they let me go. I waited for half an hour for an my backside. They then forced me to lie down ambulance, but it never came, so I left.” with the face on the ground. Everybody had to lie like this. They then started beating us. They Incident 4: only said to us: ‘don’t raise your heads’. They “I was in the port a month ago, with a friend hit us everywhere, for about fifteen to twen- of mine. He is 40 years old. The “commando” ty minutes. They then lifted me up by pulling ordered him to knee down and bend his head my jacket. I could not stand up from the pain. forward. He was handcuffed. They then sat Then they ordered us to come out of the truck. on his back, as if they were riding a horse, for We were somewhere in a remote place. No one 4.23. M. (16), from Afghanistan 68 Interview held on April 4, 2012 in Patras 44 some minutes. He was then ordered to take off tons on the sides. On its top, I saw the blue his shoes and they threw them in the garbage. light, when he turned it on. He did not ask me They usually do this. If the shoes are old, they anything. He just stunned me. Ever since I althrow them in the garbage. If the pair is new, ways feel pain, whenever I drink cold water.” they throw them in the sea. We have no spare pair of shoes. Only the ones we wear. They Incident 2: know that. He was handcuffed from 8 to 12pm, “One month and a half ago, the police caught staying still at the same position. They forced me close to the “Praktiker” shop. Everybody him to watch the ship leaving to Italy, laughing managed to run away, apart from me. There about it. Then they beat him a lot and let him was a police patrol car and the “minor” officer go. I was very, very sad when I saw this.” on his motorcycle. The “minor” kicked me on my back. The other officer was holding me still and slapping me all the time. They were shouting to my friends who were at some distance: ‘Ela malaka! Ela ki esy!’ (Come asshole! 69 Come also!). They kept beating me for almost 20minutes, until the “dolmush” arrived. They “It’s been seven months since I came to Greece. arrested me. I was detained for two days in the It’s been four months since I arrived in Patras. police station. They did not give me food, as I Patras is a very bad place for me. I never suf- had no money to pay for it. Two other detainees fered such bad conditions. It is very difficult shared their food with me. I was then transfor me. The police beat us here. They are very ferred to Athens, where I was immediately remean! But there is also one officer who is nice. leased and came back to Patras on foot. It took We call him “my friend”. He never beats us. We me six days.” do not go to the doctors, because they simply give us a prescription but we have no money to buy the medicine. It makes no difference here if you are a “pink card” holder or not. They beat 70 us anyway.” 4.24. M. (17), from Afghanistan 4.25. A. (16), from Afghanistan Incident 1: “I came to Greece six months ago and I have “Three months ago, we were at the port. It was been here in Patras for two months. I only have night. We were close to the ship’s chains at the a deportation order. I was beaten twice by the edge of the pier. I was hiding behind the chains. police in Patras.” My friends had managed to climb into some trucks. The “commandos” caught them. Then I Incident 1: tried to hide under a truck. The driver saw me. “I saw what happened to Mukhtar one month He pulled me out and called the “commandos”. and a half ago. We were together on that day. A “commando” arrived on his motorcycle. He My hand was in pain for a long time after that ordered me sit down. I did not comply with his beating. I did not visit any doctor, because they orders, so he bit me up with a telescopic baton. cannot really help us. They just prescribe mediThen he grabbed me by the arm with one hand cines to us which we cannot afford to buy. The and took a machine out of his pocket with the “commandos” had forced me to lie down. They other. He electroshocked me once on the left were pulling my legs apart, as if they wanted side, close to the kidney. I felt myself losing the to tear me up in pieces. They took my mobifeeling in my legs. When he pressed the but- le phone and stepped on it, until it broke. I tons at the side of the machine, I saw a blue brought it from Iran all the way to Greece. All light and I heard a sound like “tak-tak-tak”. I my memories and contacts were in that phowas hit by electricity. The machine was black, ne.” about 20 centimetres long and had some but- 69 Interview held on April 4, 2012 in Patras 70 Interview held on April 3, 2012 in Patras 45