Amadou v. Greece

Court rulings

Type of violation

Summary of case: The border police arrested and detained the applicant, a Gambian national, in Evros, ultimately ordering his deportation and detention for up to six months. The applicant was detained first at the Fylakio Special Holding Facility for Aliens (not the Fylakio Pre-Removal Detention Centre) and raised issues regarding the detention conditions and pending expulsion given his fear of persecution over his political opinions. Despite these challenges, authorities ignored his concerns, fined him, and moved him to Aspropyrgos Special Holding Facility for Aliens where he faced a three month sentence for unauthorised entry into the country. After submitting an asylum application and release from detention, the applicant received no support or response from the Ministry of Social Support and lived in destitution, ‘with no access to food, water or toilets.’ Relying in part on reports from different organisations, the Court confirmed the degrading and inhumane conditions of the detention centres and the gaps in domestic law that contributed to the applicant’s inability to object to the legality of his detention. The Court determined the applicant’s detention was in violation of Article 3 and Article 5(4).

Related detention centre

Link to external source: https://www.asylumlawdatabase.eu/en/content/amadou-v-greece-no-3799111-article-3-54-4-february-2016

Supporting files