283391
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 2022, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece
- Duration of detention
- 6 - 12 months
- Nationality
- Pakistan
- Age
- 30
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Undocumented
- Detained before?
- Yes
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Blunt instrument
- Physical violence
- 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?
- Private lawyer
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Yes
- 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
- None
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- No
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Yes
- Meal quality
- Low quality
- Meal quantity
- 3 per day, in PRDC
- Had access to water?
- Tap
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Less than 2h per day
- Had access to educational resources?
- Unknown
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unlimited
- Had access to bed?
- None
- Had access to laundry?
- Manual
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- None
- Narrative
The respondent is 30 years old and from Pakistan. He was arrested due to a lack of documents and was detained in a police station before being transferred to Corinth PRDC. He has been in Greece for 12 years and detained in multiple centres for short periods of time. He applied for asylum twice, once outside of detention and once in Corinth. He was rejected both times. He was only ever informed of the reasons for his detention in Greek, which he did not understand. He was held in Corinth for 8 months, in a room shared with 12-13 people. The rooms were dirty and infested with insects. Most of the detainees did not have mattresses, and the space was crowded. There was no drinking water provided, and they were told to get water from the sinks in the toilet for a 4 hour period per day. There was no hot water for showers and no cleaning products provided. He was provided with food three times a day, and was able to use his phone but did not have access to wifi. Despite there being one doctor present in the centre, there was limited access to health care. The police wore blue uniforms and were rude to detainees, and reportedly physically abused them with batons and steel boots. He described being treated like animals. He also reported that people were forced to sign voluntary deportation documents. The situation was extremely difficult for him mentally.