394433
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
- Less than 1 month
- Nationality
- Kurdistan-Turkey
- Age
- 35
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Undocumented
- Detained before?
- Unknown
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Hate speech
- Physical violence
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Unknown
- 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?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Private lawyer
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Not applicable
- Number detained in cell
- Unknown
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Unknown
- Had access to phone?
- No
- Had access to WiFi?
- No
- Ventilation
- None
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- No
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Unknown
- Meal quality
- Low quality
- Meal quantity
- 2 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?
- None
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Individual
- Had access to laundry?
- Manual
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Individual
- Narrative
The respondent is 35 years old and is from Kurdistan. He approached Didymoteicho police station to register his asylum claim, however was taken to Isaakio police station for two days by police who wore green military-like uniforms. Isaakio police station was described as extremely dirty and infested with bed bugs. They were not provided with blankets. When he was held in Isaakio police station, he was scared of being pushed back to Turkey, but was subsequently taken to Fylakio PRDC. In Fylakio, the shower did not work, and there was limited hot water each day. The food was poor quality and provided twice a day. There was restricted access to outdoor spaces, and without a designated place of worship, people prayed in a container. The respondent did not have access to his mobile phone, and there were no translators present. He was in Fylakio for 20 days, where he tried to ask questions regarding his situation, but was shouted at in Greek, ignored and then informed he would be taken to Paranesti or Xanthi. He witnessed and heard the police hit people in Fylakio and joke about them being returned to Turkey due to their political opinions. The respondent reported that the police were disrespectful and treated women badly.