54 B.M. is an Iranian who was detained in Soufli and Feres border guard stations, and in the detention centre of Venna. In Iran he had been arrested and allegedly tortured on account of political reasons. He fled his country and sought international protection. On August 8, 2010 he was apprehended by the Greek police. Even though he asked for international protection, his claim was never registered. On August 14, 2010 his deportation and detention were ordered. He was never informed of his rights. His asylum claim was only registered on October 4, 2010. His detention was extended without taking into account his asylum seeker status. The police interviewed him on the October 22, 2010.177 On November 3, 2010 his asylum application was rejected and he had the right to lodge an annulment application within 60 days. On the 22nd of same month the new presidential decree was published. According to »I sewed my lips together to make a hunger strike.« H.H., from Iran178 ■ »Upon my arrest I claimed to be Afghan. I was afraid I would stay in detention a long time if I told the truth. The officers did not believe me. They asked me to recognize the Afghan flag, but I couldn’t. Then they asked me about the geography. I couldn’t reply. After the registration I was brought into a dark cell full of people. It was horrible. After just one day in there I went crazy. I sewed my lips together to make a hunger strike. We wanted to set fire to the cell in order to be released. I sewed my lips together a second time later on alongside some others. The police took us out and transferred us to Feres. After some days we were again brought back to Soufli. They put me into a small cell this time. In the cell I was in there were always women and penal detainees – the smugglers. The police also brought detainees to our cell that had tried to escape or that had fights with the police in other detention centres. It was very difficult to survive even for one day in this prison. Especially for women and children. The ones who stayed for many months all went crazy. They hurt themselves and tried to commit suicide. There were a lot of fights about places to sleep or about getting access to the telephone. In the morning, around 4 o’clock, the police was calling the names of detainees, and saying to them: 177 Article 3, Paragraph 1 of PD 81/2009 8. Lack of legal safeguards this, a three-months deadline for the rejected asylum seekers was given in order to lodge an appeal before the new Appeals Committees. Consequently, the implementation of any deportation of B.M. was suspended. His case could not be examined in the second instance until the establishment of the new Appeals Committees, which took place on February 2011. OnNovember 25, 2010 B.M. was supported by lawyers, and requested in written form to be examined by a medical specialist for victims of torture, and to be granted reception conditions. On December 6, 2010 the court rejected his objections, as he was considered to be a probable escapee, even though it was clear that neither his deportation, nor the completion of the asylum procedure were feasible during the remaining period spent in detention. ›deport‹. Then they would bring them to a big bus and they left. I don’t know where they were going. Most of them were from Algeria, but there were also some Iraqis and Iranians. I wanted to commit suicide twice. Once I took the bedding that a family had left behind. The nice ones with flowers and many colours, you know. I cut them into strips and wove a rope out of it. But I couldn’t decide to finally do it. When I missed the sky very much, I waited for nicer police to be on shift and begged them to bring the garbage out. At least for one minute I could see the sky and breathe.« H.H. from Iran was arrested on October 17, 2010. His deportation was ordered on October 22, 2010. In December his asylum claim was registered. On December 19, 2010 he requested for reception conditions upon his release. He had handed copies of his personal data to the police. On January 13, 2011 his objection was rejected, as »there was a risk of absconding« owing to a lack of a permanent address, and because he did not have original identity documents. His lawyer challenged the rejection and went a second time before the court. The Court dismissed the case once again for almost identical reasons, without taking account the particularities of his case, and the fact that the three-month period for detention for the asylum seeker was over. He had reached the maximum of six months in detention. He was released in April 2011. 178 H.H., from Iran; December 19, 2010; February 8, 2011; April 24, 2011 – Soufli, Athens