6 Methodology This report focuses on the effects of COVID-19 entry measures against newly arriving asylum seekers on the Greek island of Chios, specifically on the implementation of an automatic quarantine, as well as civil and criminal penalties for violating COVID-19 entry policies. Through this report, Equal Rights Beyond Borders (Equal Rights) aims to analyse the legality of these practices and assess their human rights impacts. The report is based on research undertaken from July 2021 to June 2022, during which researchers from Equal Rights collected information about the quarantine practices and conditions on Chios. For this report, researchers interviewed 11 formerly quarantined persons. Researchers also interviewed representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and analysed responses from the Greek Ombudsman and authorities on Chios regarding the quarantine. Lastly, researchers collected and analysed official government documents for eight asylum seekers—these included administrative files from the Greek Asylum Service (GAS), the Reception and Identification Service (RIS), and the police. Equal Rights researchers interviewed 11 asylum seekers in total. Of those, 2 were women and 9 were men, and one was an unaccompanied minor who turned 18 after the quarantine was over. Interviews were conducted in person and over the phone, in English and in Arabic, Farsi, French, and Somali with the aid of translators. Researchers explained to each interviewee the purpose of the interview, its voluntary nature, the way in which the information would be used, and the fact that any identifying information would be omitted from the report due to privacy and security concerns. Researchers received written consent for each interview, and interviewees did not receive material compensation for speaking with Equal Rights. Due to the sensitive nature of these findings and many participants’ ongoing immigration proceedings, the names of all interviewees have been changed to pseudonyms. Additionally, researchers also spoke to dozens of clients who underwent the quarantine procedure. Even though the subjective perception of the quarantine differs, the overall situation and the facts described in the report based on the conducted interviews was confirmed by other clients. Researchers also conducted a literature review of relevant International, EU, and Greek law. Relevant international law included treaties only to which Greece is a party, namely the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and its interpretation by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Additionally, researchers used commentary from interpreting bodies for 1) the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and its Optional Protocol; 2) the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); 3) the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. Researchers also referenced European asylum law–namely, the European Asylum Procedures Directive (APD) and the European Reception Conditions Directive (RCD)– as well as Greek Asylum law and the Greek domestic laws used to implement COVID-19 measures against asylum seekers. Finally, researchers referenced COVID-19 specific guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). ‘Quarantine of Asylum Seeker’ – A legal classification of the quarantine practice on Chios