997588
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
- 22
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Undocumented
- Detained before?
- No
- 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
- 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?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- 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?
- yes, witnessed
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Verbal
- Yes
- Meal quality
- Low quality
- Meal quantity
- 3 per day, in PRDC
- Had access to water?
- Tap
- Had access to outdoor space?
- More 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?
- Individual
- Had access to laundry?
- Manual
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Individual
- Narrative
The respondent is 22 years old and is from Pakistan. He was arrested in Athens due to not having documents, and was taken to a police station where he was forced to sign documents that he did not understand, before being detained in Corinth PRDC for 9 months. He applied for asylum in detention but received a rejection. He reported a lack of access to water, and was limited to 3 hours outside a day. He shared a room with 12-13 people, a few of which did not have a mattress or bed, and were forced to sleep on the floor. The toilet and shower facilities were extremely unsanitary, and they were not provided with any cleaning products. There was no heating or air conditioning. He has access to his phone but not wifi. He was provided with meals 3 times a day, but could not receive medical care despite asking several times. The police wore blue uniforms and reportedly physically abused detainees with batons, and treated them poorly, which he described was as if they were not human. The mental toll was extensive, which led to fights and protests by detainees.