960623
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 12th July 2023, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 3
- Duration of detention
- Less than 1 month
- Nationality
- Afghanistan
- Age
- 32
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Mass/sweep
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Unknown to respondent
- Detained before?
- Unknown
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Unknown
- Type of violence experienced
- Food deprivation
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Yes, in Greek
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- Unknown
- 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?
- Private lawyer
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- Unknown
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Unknown
- Had access to phone?
- Unknown
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Unknown
- Meal quality
- Unknown
- Meal quantity
- Unknown
- 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?
- 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 Afghanistan. He was apprehended in a forest in Northern Greece, taken to a police station in Serres for two days, then transferred to a police station in Kato Poria for approximately 26 days. He was then transferred to an informal centre close to the Asylum Service office in Thessaloniki for a few days and finally transferred to Diavata open camp. Upon apprehension the respondent reportedly asked the officers for asylum. Upon arrival in the police station in Serres, the respondent was fingerprinted and forced to sign documents. The respondent was not provided with food or other assistance while being detained at the police station. After two days, he was transferred to a second police station in Kato Poria. The conditions in the facility were reported as degrading without adequate medical care and access to legal advice. “That place was like a prison. It was very dark and unhygienic. [...] I have seen a lot of difficult situations of people thinking about committing suicide. Kato Poria is just like Guantanamo prison.” The respondent reportedly submitted his asylum claim at Kato Poria police station after two weeks of detention. He was reportedly taken to the hospital to receive medical treatment 10 days following the submission of his asylum application. He was then transferred to a building located close to the Asylum Service office in Thessaloniki. The respondent described this facility as a place where “the illegal migrants and criminals are kept.” The respondent was kept at this detention facility “for a few days” until he obtained an asylum seeker card. He was subsequently transferred to an open camp for asylum seekers at Diavata.