Communication issues were also frequently mentioned, with no
availability of translators, particularly for Farsi speakers, leading to
individuals missing their opportunity to lodge an asylum application
or appeal. In addition, people were reportedly never informed of
how long they would be held in Corinth. Several detainees described
the critical lack of access to asylum procedures in Corinth, and that
most people got negative decisions hence being kept for extensive
periods of time, before being released with a police note. Regular
deportations from Corinth are not taking place, although ERBB
noted that since the bilateral agreement in 2022, people are being
returned to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The quality of food and hygiene conditions reported were extremely
poor, with a third of individuals citing this as the main challenge
they experienced. Food is provided three times per day in Corinth,
but was reported as not fresh, often spoiled and several days old.
A severe lack of medical care was expressed, with one doctor
present who only provides support in extremely urgent cases.
Detainees are reportedly forced to wait several months before they
receive health care. Individuals also frequently mentioned being
quarantined for over one month on the grounds of COVID-19
measures, restricting their already limited freedom further. One
psychologist is present in Corinth, yet detainees reported it being
incredibly difficult to access regardless of the fact that severe
psychological ill-health was indicated by over 90% of individuals
when they were in detention. Our interviewees explained that
access to outdoor spaces is restricted, and no other activities are
provided leading to a general situation of dire mental health. As a
result of these conditions and prolonged periods of being
imprisoned in legal limbo, tensions among detainees was also
frequently reported, with fights breaking out as people struggled to
gain access to basic necessities. Interviewees also explained that the
authorities routinely manipulated detainees in order to amplify
tensions between them, for example, by purposefully providing
rooms next door to each other with or without air conditioning, or
other facilities.
Our research also found that individuals in Corinth experienced the
longest periods of time in detention, with an average of seven
months and with reports of people held for beyond 18 months.
There was a general perception by people who were held in Corinth,
civil society actors and by the community that being detained in
Corinth was one of the worst of all the PRDCs, and that once people
were there, it took a long time for them to be released. Corinth was
consistently referred to as worse than prison. Lastly, ‘difficult cases’
were often reported to be transferred to Corinth, for example,
individuals who protested the poor conditions in other PRDCs.
Source: Corinth PRDC cell, MIT respondent
There is a really small space to go
out. We couldn't do any exercise
or walk around. It was about 14
metres. Just.. I don't know how to
explain this, in 14 metres how it
could be possible to do exercise or
to walk?
In the winter, I don't know
exactly, but the place that I was
living in, it was really cold and
freezing. When I asked them to
give me an extra blanket or
clothes they said we don't have it
here. Also, because when the
weather is cold it hurts more.
When I asked them for anything
they just ignored it.
Hussein, Corinth
Never, they never move anybody
to the public hospital. They just
they said you can drink some
water.
Sayed, Corinth
‘I’m sick, I need to see a doctor’
they don’t care about it, they just
send them to a room where there
is no light to see anyone. For
example, one of my friends had
psychological problems and he
had bad mental health so when
he said that they just didn't care
about it they just ignored
everything.
Abdul, Corinth
23