Even after being granted asylum, recognized Iraqi refugees express little confidence in their ability to integrate in Greece. Human Rights Watch interviewed one of the Iraqis who was granted asylum on appeal. The 42-year-old man left Iraq in 1995, had been living in Greece for 11 years, and was a red-card holder for the past seven years. He said of his experience in finally being granted asylum: I went to the Appeals Committee six months ago. They just asked a few questions. I had no lawyer. I just presented myself. I got the Alien’s Residence Card for recognized refugees authorized from 2007 until 2012. But I’m not okay. I can’t work here. I have a war injury. I am not eligible for social security. I have two children who have no future in Greece. They didn’t go to school when they were younger so they have problems.302 Conditions Common to all Asylum Seekers and Migrants Other asylum seekers face many of the same problems as Iraqis. Certainly, the problems of gaining access to Greek territory, summary forced returns across the river border at Evros, and Coast Guard pushbacks occur without any distinction among nationalities. Police harassment of foreigners, particularly Africans and south Asians, is common in Greece.303 Human Rights Watch observed Greek police frequently stopping and checking the documents of dark skinned people around the Omonia Square area in downtown Athens, where many poor foreigners are living. Possession of a red card or other valid document does not necessarily spare foreigners from harsh police treatment. The sense among asylum seekers of being trapped in Greece without secure protection or possibilities for work or social integration is shared by all nationality groups. A 28year-old Sudanese man who has been living in Greece for four years described the asylum process in terms almost identical to the experience, previously noted, of many Iraqis who tried to seek asylum: 302 Human Rights Watch interview (name withheld, B-80), Athens, June 4, 2008. 303 Other migrants who told Human Rights Watch that the police in Athens harassed or beat them included S-115; S-122; !-126; 111 Human Rights Watch November 2008