429912
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 2022, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 2
- Duration of detention
- 12 - 18 months
- Nationality
- Pakistan
- Age
- 32
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Public order grounds
- Detained before?
- Yes
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes, in a PRDC
- Type of violence experienced
- Hate speech
- Verbal insult
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Yes, in Greek
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- Yes, in asylum unit
- Did the respondent have access to medical aid?
- Yes, limited
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Yes, upon request
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- 10+
- Number detainees sharing WC
- 10+
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Room, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Yes, own
- Had access to WiFi?
- No
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- No
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 2 per day, in PRDC
- Had access to water?
- Tap
- Had access to outdoor space?
- More than 2h per day
- Had access to educational resources?
- None
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Limited
- Had access to bed?
- Unknown
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is 32 years old and is from Pakistan. He was arrested in Athens when he was trying to help someone fix their window, but was reportedly accused of attempting to steal. He was taken to a police station where he signed some documents that he did not understand. He was then transferred to Amygdaleza PRDC, where he was held for 6 months. Despite applying for asylum in Amygdaleza, he was rejected, and subsequently transferred to Corinth PRDC. He shared a room and toilet with 12-13 people, and had limited access to water supply in the showers. The rooms was dirty, and infested with insects. Although they were provided with meals 3 times a day, it was usually just made of potatoes. There were no recreational activities provided, but they had access to outdoor space. The respondent is diabetic, and tried to receive medical support from the doctor in detention, but could not access appropriate medication. He reported that he was depressed and felt mentally tortured, and was provided with medication for this but it resulted in him sleeping all the time. Although he did not experience any problems with the police due to avoiding speaking to them, he witnessed verbal aggression from the police with other detainees. He noted that people were deported back to Pakistan from Amygdaleza, but had never seen anyone deported from Corinth in the 6 months that he was held there.