458647
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
- 12 - 18 months
- Nationality
- Tunisia
- Age
- 30
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Public order grounds
- Detained before?
- Yes, in a police station
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- No
- Type of violence experienced
- Not Applicable
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Yes, in Greek
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- No
- 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?
- No
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- No
- Number detained in cell
- 6
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Low quality
- Type of cell
- Isobox/container, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Yes, without camera
- Had access to WiFi?
- No
- Ventilation
- A/C
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- yes, witnessed
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- No
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 2 per day, in police station
- Had access to water?
- Tap
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Unknown
- Had access to educational resources?
- None
- Had access to religious space?
- Shared space
- Had access to electricity?
- Unlimited
- Had access to bed?
- Individual
- Had access to laundry?
- Manual
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is a 30-year-old from Tunisia. He was apprehended in Northern Greece, where he stayed at a police station for 17 days, before he was transferred to Paranesti PDRC. He had been in detention for approximately 13 months. Despite asking for a lawyer, he was not offered any. He had his asylum interview 6 months after arrival at the centre. When he got rejected, they told him he could appeal with a lawyer but he stopped his case. He describes the centre as a remote place covered by a fence and cameras everywhere. He stayed in a container with another 5 people. During the weekend, the centre was cleaned. There was heating and air-conditioning. The quality of food was bad, with some of it being mouldy. During the weekend, they were offered three meals in the morning and during the week one meal in the morning and two in the evening. Access to healthcare was limited and he claims that old people are not properly looked after. Despite him complaining about tooth pain, he was ignored for two months and taken to a dentist only before his release. He did not experience violence himself because as he claims he acquiesced and did not cause any trouble. People who were taken to the hospital were only the ones that self-harmed. He did witness a lot of violence, though. The police would pick one of the detainees, put him in the middle and beat him with batons, punches and kicks. The people who were picked were usually the ones who protested against the situation inside the centre.