593168
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 16th March 2023, 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?
- Yes, in a police station
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Verbal insult
- 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?
- Yes, limited
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- No
- 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
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- yes, witnessed
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- No
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 3 per day, in PRDC
- Had access to water?
- Yes, limited
- Had access to outdoor space?
- More than 2h per day
- Had access to educational resources?
- None
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unlimited
- Had access to bed?
- Individual
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- None
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is 22 years old and from Pakistan. He was detained for 12 months in Corinth PRDC, after being apprehended by police because he did not have documents. Prior to being transferred to Corinth he was detained in an unidentified police station for two months. The respondent reported that there were “many” people while he was kept there, he only received one meal a day, and the place was dirty. Furthermore, there were reportedly not enough toilets in the facility. At Corinth he was made to sign documents written in Greek which he did not understand and no translator was provided: “They give us one paper to sign. I don’t know what was written in that paper but they forced me to sign it”. Reportedly, the respondent did not have access to a lawyer and was not informed of the possibility of obtaining free legal counsel while in detention. There were 12 people detained in each room and everyone had access to their own bed. He reported that officers sometimes confiscated mobile phones from detainees. The hygiene conditions were described as very poor and detainees reportedly had access to cold showers for approximately three hours during the day. The respondent explained: “The place was really dirty, and we had a lot of cockroaches there… insects in our rooms.” There were reportedly not enough toilets in the facility. Food was provided three times a day but was described as very low quality. The respondent reported multiple organised hunger strikes within the PRDC in protest against the living conditions, however, he explained: “They [the officers working at the PRDC] never listened to us.” While there was a doctor present at the PRDC on occasion, the respondent explained that treatment was inadequate. There was no translator or psychologist present at the facility. Reportedly no non governmental organisations are present on site. Detainees were allowed to go outside during designated times during the day. No violence was reported however the respondent described the officers at Corinth using abusive language towards detainees.