Iraqi asylum seekers who managed to live for a time in other European states, particularly Sweden, Finland, and Norway, praised their treatment as far more humane than what they experienced in Greece. A 34-year-old man from Kirkuk who said that he fled for his life because people were seeking revenge on him for having been a military policeman in the Ba`thist era, nearly died crossing by foot from Turkey to Greece. He is now partially blind and dependent on dialysis for his survival. He spoke highly of his treatment in Sweden, in contrast to his present circumstances in Athens, where he was homeless and destitute at the time Human Rights Watch talked with him: I asked for asylum in Stockholm. They took me to a hospital and from there I stayed for eight months in a house under comfortable conditions. Even the taxi driver bringing me from the hospital treated me politely, asking me if there was any place else I would like to go, and the police when it was snowing took me in their car and treated me nicely. They gave me a bankcard [He produces it. It says “Migrationsverket”]. But they took my fingerprints and said I should be returned to Greece. I said that I did not want to return to Greece because I didn’t think they would take care of my kidneys and eyes. But Sweden checked with Greece and Greece said they would take care of my health and all my rights. A Swedish official told me that if Greece does not accept you, we will take you and will let you bring your wife and son (who are still in Iraq).321 The man produced a copy of a letter to the Greek authorities from a Swedish doctor that said that the man had “end stage renal disease” and was dialysis dependent. The letter concluded by saying, “Thanks in advance for the dialysis and medical help that you surely are going to offer [name withheld].”322 Upon his return to Athens, the Greek authorities transferred him to a Hellenic Red Cross camp in Lavrios, but he became homeless within a few months: 321 Human Rights Watch interview (name withheld, B-16), Athens, May 27, 2008. 322 Human Rights Watch interview (name withheld, B-16), Athens, May 27, 2008. 119 Human Rights Watch November 2008