582942
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
- 4 - 6 months
- Nationality
- Iran
- Age
- 33
- 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?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Blunt instrument
- Food deprivation
- Physical violence
- Sharp instrument
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- Yes, in a PRDC
- 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
- 10+
- Number detainees sharing WC
- 10+
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Room, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Unknown
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Physical
- Verbal
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 2 per day, in police station
- Had access to water?
- Unknown
- 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?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Unknown
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is 33 years old and is from Iran. He reported that the first time he was in Greece, he was pushed back to Turkey. When he returned, he was arrested in Athens due to a lack of documentation, although had been trying to register his asylum claim many times. He was first taken to a police station, where he stayed for one month, and subsequently taken to Amygdaleza PRDC for two months. In Amygdaleza, he applied for asylum, but received little support with translation, and instead was provided information from fellow detainees. He shared a container room with 8 people in Amygdaleza, and did have access to warm water. He was then transferred to Corinth PRDC, where he stayed for a further three months. He reported that he shared a room with 24-25 people in Corinth, and shared a bathroom with hundreds. The bathrooms were broken, with only cold water and dirty. The respondent reported that he was only allowed outside for two hours a day in Corinth. There was no access to recreational activities, and medical care was sporadic; whilst he was in Corinth there was no doctor or psychologist present. He explained that there were many tensions and fights between detainees due to the situation that they were in, and the police rarely responded to provide medical support, and instead often physically abused detainees as a result. When the respondent protested the quality of food, they were deprived of food for two days. The respondent additionally witnessed an individual who tried to commit suicide being physically beaten by the police.