957797
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 14th April 2024, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 3
- Duration of detention
- 4 - 6 months
- Nationality
- Pakistan
- Age
- 35
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Unknown to respondent
- Detained before?
- Yes
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Unknown
- Type of violence experienced
- Unknown
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- Unknown
- 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?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- 6
- Number detainees sharing WC
- 10+
- Hygiene rating
- Low quality
- Type of cell
- Room, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Unknown
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Window
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Witnessed
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- Unknown
- Had access to water?
- Tap
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Unknown
- Had access to educational resources?
- Unknown
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Sleeping on the ground
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Individual, thin
- Narrative
The respondent is a 35 year-old-man from Pakistan. He was apprehended in December 2022 when he attended an appointment to register an asylum claim at Malakasa Reception and Identification Centre. He reported his fingerprints were taken, and then after approximately three hours, what he described as police in civil uniform, arrested him. He was transferred to what he reported to be a police station where his fingerprints were taken a second time, and he was informed he would be detained. Despite asking several times, he explained that he was not given a reason for his detention. He was however provided with a document that he was informed was regarding his arrest, however, he was unable to understand it as there was no translator available. He was then transferred to the Amygdaleza Pre-Removal Detention Centre (PRDC).
Upon his arrival at Amygdaleza, the respondent reported his possessions were searched and items such as shampoo were confiscated. He stated he spent two days in the quarantine area, describing conditions here as ‘very bad’. He reported being housed in a room with five other detainees, however, the room was only equipped for four people and therefore two detainees slept on the floor. He explained that at night it was extremely cold, there were no blankets and his mattress was infested with bedbugs. The respondent reported that approximately 40-50 people shared 20 toilets. However, only two toilets were in usable condition as the majority were broken, with the respondent describing broken doors and taps. After two days the respondent was moved out of quarantine to another area within Amygdaleza. He noted a slight improvement in conditions, but that they were still poor. He reported that here he was provided with a blanket and after a wait of approximately six days a heater was also given. Food quality was poor, and the respondent reported that it had primarily consisted of soup. The respondent explained that the behaviour of officers was often abusive, describing how some detainees were beaten. Additionally, he reported that detainee's requests for medical care were ignored, ‘If people are sick and they ask for medicine, or any medical care then they don’t listen to the people.’
After 22 days detained in Amygdaleza, the respondent was transferred to Corinth PRDC. He was informed this was because his second asylum interview would take place at Corinth. At Corinth, the respondent reported there to be ‘many problems’. He specifically highlighted a lack of medical care, noting that health conditions were often only treated with paracetamol, and poor hygienic conditions, in particular infestations of bedbugs. The respondent spent a total of approximately five months in detention.