Translation and Information
Further compounding issues of access to
legal services, was the distinct lack of
translators available to support people
and explain the reasons for their arrest
and detention. Our research concluded
that the majority of people were either
forced to go without crucial information,
use fellow detainees to support them in
translation thus breaking client privacy,
or at best, receive translation services
over the phone. Regarding applicants for
international protection, this specifically
violates EU legislation[206] as well as
Greek law[207] on conditions for
detention which designates that all
applicants
should
be
informed
immediately in a language they
understand, the reasons for detention
and procedures laid down in national
law.[208] In addition, the RD provides
that third country nationals should be
systematically provided with information
which explains the rules applied in the
facility and sets out their rights and
obligations.[209] Yet, over 40% of
respondents across PRDCs were arrested
without knowing the reason for the
arrest in a language they understood.
Where information or documentation
was provided, it was often in Greek.
Many respondents specifically noted
that their treatment was that of
criminals, yet they did not understand
what they had done wrong, indicating
their confusion at the reasons for their
detention. In the judgment M.S.S v
Belgium and Greece in 2011, the ECtHR
noted “the systematic placement of
asylum-seekers in detention without
informing them of the reasons for their
detention is a widespread practice of the
Greek authorities”.[210] In its report in
2020, the CPT specifically recommended
that sufficient funding should be made
I could not get any response from the lawyer, so I decided
to assign a new lawyer and one of the guys inside the
prison told me there is someone, a lawyer, that he knew,
and he was introduced to me. Then I signed a contract
with him which I had to pay 1,800 euro, and after that,
after signing that contract, I was supported by the lawyer
and finally I was released.
Afran, Corinth
They never provide a lawyer or somebody who can
explain. They push you to pay for a lawyer. Everyone just
wants to go outside so they will spend all their money to
go out. All the lawyers who come to these places and try
to take the case are big scammers and take the money.
Some paid 2,000 euros. It's an indescribable place and I
don't want to talk about it so much.
Unknown, Amygdaleza
In the police station they told me they are going to take
me to an open camp and when I got to Drama I found out
that Drama is a closed camp, is a detention, not an open
camp. And when I asked about a lawyer they told me
that a lawyer is not going to help me here.
Walid, Paranesti
[When I asked the police for asylum] there wasn't any
interpreter to translate. I can speak a little of Greek. So I
explained what I wanted.
Ghulam, Corinth
I needed to pay a lawyer to get out. So I paid somebody
that went with the lawyer to the court and he told the
court that when I go out of detention, he will look after
me. I gave them the [hosting] address and the lawyer
went to court in order to get me out.
Sami, Fylakio
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