625819
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
- 2 - 4 months
- Nationality
- Syria
- Age
- 37
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Unknown to respondent
- Detained before?
- Yes, in a police station
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Unknown
- Type of violence experienced
- Unknown
- 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?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Private lawyer
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Unknown
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- 4
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Isobox/container, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Yes, own
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Dysfunctional
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Witnessed
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 2 per day, in police station
- Had access to water?
- Unknown
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Unknown
- 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?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is a 37 year old from Syria. He was apprehended in Victoria Square in Athens, and was taken to a police station where his fingerprints and photos were taken. He was forced to sign papers which he did not understand, and stayed in the police station for 4 days before being taken to Amygdaleza PRDC. He was detained in Amygdaleza for 50 days, and was not provided with any information in a language that he could understand. He described the conditions as worse than for animals; the container room that he was staying in was approximately 3 square meters, split into two sides with 2-4 people on each who sleep on metal bunk beds. He described that one side of the container has air conditioning in summer, but the other side does not, causing tensions between detainees. No cleaning products were provided, and detainees have to wash clothes by hand with soap and water. Food is provided 3 times a day but was similarly described as worse than for animals. There is only cold water in the shower and due to there being no shower whatsoever in his container, he was forced to ask others to let him use theirs. He paid 400 Euros for a lawyer as no legal support was provided inside.