4.21. H.R. (17), from Afghanistan I did not realize what he was about to do. He 66 came from behind and hit me with the motorcycle. He then stopped. He revved up and hit me again. I fell down. He stopped and wan- “I am almost 18 years old now. When I first came ted to handcuff me. I showed him my leg. The to Greece, I told the police I was 27 years old, as bone was completely exposed and broken. He I did not want to stay three months in detendid not handcuff me and then asked me if I tion. I had a deportation order from Evros’, but had any documents! And then he finally called the police here in Patras tore it up. They did the for an ambulance. same to others, too. The police had checked my He hid his motorcycle behind the bushes. The documents here in the factory. They wanted to ambulance arrived as well as another poli- arrest me, but I ran away. It has been one year ce officer on a motorcycle. He did not ask me since I arrived to Greece and seven months I anything about the accident. I guess he came am in Patras now. I have once managed to to give the one who hit me a lift. I was brought reach Italy, but they sent me back immediately. to Aghios Andreas Hospital. The police officers I was once beaten up that badly by the “comdid not come along. The doctor in the hospital mandos” that Praksis referred me to a recepasked me how this happened. I told him, but he tion centre. But I left and came back here. The did nothing about it. living conditions here are very bad. Last month, There were no other people standing there. the Municipality cut off the water supply in the But there were passers-by who saw what had fabric. Now we drink from the sewage water. happened. I spent 15 days in the hospital re- We already eat from the garbage bins. covering. In three days I have to go back, to The police tell us: ‘You want to stay here? Live change the plaster cast. like dogs and die like dogs!’ We had heard that Nothing was done about this. I don’t think that they would respect our rights here in Europe, the officer who injured me was punished for but they do not know what the word “human” what he did. No other officer came to ask me stands for. He points at a dog next to him. This about the incident in order to investigate it.” dog is worth more than us to them. Common people do not really treat us bad, but the police do. Even though in our home countries we have 65 so many problems, we never treat a foreigner bad. I believe Greece is the toilette of Europe!” Incident 1: “One day, I was in front of the supermarket. I tried to ask for food to eat. The police came and beat me with their batons. They accused me of stealing. They destroyed my mobile phone and then let me free.” 4.20. A., from Morocco “He came from behind and hit me with the motorcycle.” 4.18. S., from Morocco 63 “Yesterday I went to the port around six o’ clock in the afternoon. Two “commandos” with their motorcycles found me. They got off their motorcycles and started beating me with their batons and insulting me. I fell down on the ground and they kept on beating me up, everywhere – they even kicked me in my head. I was so badly beaten on my legs, that you could see the bones through the open wound.” He shows to us an open wound on his left leg. He bandaged it on his own. “I did not want to go to the hospital, I have no papers and I am afraid. Can you help me see a doctor?” 4.19 J., from Afghanistan 64 We visited J. in his makeshift shelter. He has not been going out since he was injured and is entirely dependent on his friends for everything he needs. His right foot was in a cast. He showed us the medical certificates he had receive from the hospital. He seemed weak and in bad psychological condition while we sat and talked. “It was a month ago. I was outside walking, near a gas station. I wanted to buy a coffee. I was on my own. It was around five o’ clock in the afternoon. I saw a police officer on a motorcycle chasing some others. I kept on walking. “In the place where no one remembers no one, you should not expect anything.” 63 Interview held on April 3, 2012 in Patras 64 I nterview held on May 12, 2012 in Patras 40 Incident 2: “Ten days ago, three “commandos” on motorcycles were chasing me. I was running, because I was afraid they would beat me. They stopped me, threw a spray in my eyes and beat me with their batons on my head. I fell down, but they kept on beating me.” 65 Interview held on May 12, 2012 in Patras 66 Interview held on April 3, 2012 in Patras 41