4.11. A., from Eritrea 56 them after us. They kept beating us and insulting us for approximately 30 minutes. Nobody could see us, in that corner where we were. My “I’ve been in Greece for five months and two stomach and my chest were in strong pain. I weeks here in Patras. It’s a shame for Europe still have the pain on my chest. I was detained what the police is doing here. Europe should in the old port overnight. The day after they re- be setting a good example, not a bad one. They leased me without any document. There was should be civilized and friendly here. At least nothing in that cell. No food, no water, no to- this is what I heard about Europe, before coilette, no blanket, no shoes, no nothing. It was ming here. We did not know Europe is like this, cold. I could not even stand on feet or move when we were in Eritrea. We might come from due to the pain. I was crying for help telling poor families, but we are not used to living like them I need to see a doctor. Every three hours, this. They should sympathize with us; we are someone would come and check on me, ma- human beings. In Patras, people are generally king hand gestures and insulting me by say- good. I think they are kind and generous. We ing: ‘malaka, gamisou esy, gamisou aderfi sou, have problems with the authorities and the gamisou to islam, gamisou chora sou’ (assho- extremists. le! Fuck you! Fuck your sister! Fuck Islam! Fuck It was six days ago, around the 29th of your country..!). Three days after the beating I March. I was trying to leave, in a truck. I was was still in a lot of pain, so I went to the hospi- hidden in a spare tire. The truck arrived at the tal. Nobody helped me there. A woman waiting Check-In point. At first, the “commando” did to see a doctor, started shouting on us, telling not see me. When he found me, he pulled me we wanted to steal her bag. After waiting for out. It was in the afternoon. He insulted me and five hours I fainted from the pain. A doctor vi- then punched and kicked me. Another “comsited me and I was put on a drip. I had an X-ray. mando” came and ordered him to stop beaWhen I left the hospital, I didn’t get any medi- ting me. They pushed me inside the van. There cal attestation concerning my injuries neither were also three Sudanese. They handcuffed me was any medicine prescribed to me.” with plastic cuffs on my back. The “commando” then told me: ‘Now you are safe! Tomorrow you will be transferred to Athens.’ When Incident 2: “We know all the garbage bins of Patras. We he left, the other one stepped into the van and even know in which one can find sweets, bread closed the door behind him. He beat me until or other meals… Fifteen days ago I was loo- I begged him to stop. Twenty minutes later, we king for food in the garbage bin. A police officer were brought to the police station. They took arrived on his motorcycle and stopped next to everything, even our mobile phones. When we me. He ordered me to enter the garbage bin were about to be transferred to Athens, they and close the garbage bin lid over me. I did as even searched my underwear.” he ordered me to do. I had no other choice of course. I was afraid. I just entered into the gar57 bage bin and closed the lid over my head.” 4.12. H., from Morocco Incident 3: “One week before, we were three persons and “One day I saw an Afghan lying on the ground. the “commandos” caught us. They forced us to A “commando” was standing on him and bea- sit down with our legs up in the air, with our ting hem while a dog was biting his legs. It was heads leaned to the back and our hands on our very shocking for me. When they let him go back. They told us to take off our shoes. Then and he came out of the port, we asked a Greek they threw them into the sea. They brought us person to call an ambulance. The Afghan could to a remote place, at a corner where no one not walk anymore. If we call the ambulance, could see us. They started beating us up all they never come. A Greek has to call for them.” over our bodies with the batons and kicking us. There was also a dog with them. One of 56 Interview held on April 4, 2012 in Patras 57 Interview held on April 3, 2012 in Patras 36 us was handcuffed on his back. They ordered me to take off my clothes and jump into the sea. I tried to tell them that I do not know how to swim. I was afraid to drown. They beat me even more and heavily insulted me telling me to leave the country.” “I came healthy from Afghanistan and now I am afraid that I will leave this country limping.“ 4.13. H.M., from Afghanistan 58 On the 5th of April, around 10am the police came where we are staying. We were all sleeping, on the second floor. They came from the stairs, so I tried to run away, climbing down a rope. The police, once they arrived on our floor, cut the rope. I fell from six metres height. I hurt my leg. I could not walk anymore and I was feeling dizzy. They dragged me into the “dolmush”. In the car, there were also some Sudanese and a Pakistani. I was shouting from the pain, asking them to take me to the hospital. They said: ‘Shut up!’ and drove around the area for a couple of hours. They did not ask for my papers. They then brought me to Aghios Andreas Hospital. A plaster cast was put on my leg. I was told not to move for thirty days. I left for Athens, to rest and get well. After 30days I went to KAT hospital, to have my plaster cast removed. They told me they could not do that, as I had no valid documents. I came back to Patras. Now I’m sleeping in the same place. My friends tie a rope around me and pull me up to the second floor. I depend on them for everything. Now, my friends have been arrested. I’m alone. I told the police to leave at least one of them to take care of me, but they replied I should get in my sleeping back and stay there until they come back.” 4.14. R., from Morocco 59 “I don’t understand why these things happen in Greece. They do not have the right to humiliate us like that. The worst thing that ever happened to me, took place twenty days ago. Two “commandos” arrested me inside the port. They had a dog with them. They handcuffed me so tightly that my wrists still carry the signs.” He shows to us his right wrist. “They took me to a remote place. They did not want tourists to see them. Four or five “commandos” came. I was wearing a cap. They pulled it down over my eyes, so that I could not see anything. Then they started beating me up with their batons and kicking me – mostly in my head, back and legs. I had the impression they were trying to break my legs. You can still see the signs of the beating over my body.” He shows to us signs on his back. “I fell down from the beating and they just kept on hitting me. At some point my cap was lifted and I could see them. I think they beat me over for about half an hour. They were making pictures of me with their mobile phones and laughing. They insulted me. Then they told me they would upload the photos in the Internet. They were asking me whether I could provide them with some hashish. They broke my mobile phone. My legs are still aching me. I tried to go to the hospital. I finally managed to go to Rio’s Hospital.” 58Interview held on May 12, 2012 in Patras 59 Interview held on April 3, 2012 in Patras 37