886077
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 7th March 2023, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece
- Duration of detention
- 6 - 12 months
- Nationality
- Afghanistan
- Age
- 35
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Unknown
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Criminal charges
- Detained before?
- Unknown
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- Yes
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Physical violence
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- No
- 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
- Unknown
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Unknown
- Type of cell
- Unknown
- Had access to phone?
- Dysfunctional
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- yes, witnessed
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Unknown
- Meal quality
- Unknown
- Meal quantity
- Unknown
- Had access to water?
- Unknown
- 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?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Unknown
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Purchased
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is 35 years old and is from Afghanistan. He was arrested upon arrival and reportedly accused of ‘illegal trespassing’. He was taken to court and was sentenced to 4 years in prison. He was transferred to Nigrita prison, where he was detained for nine months. He applied for asylum and eventually was recognised as a refugee long after he was released. While in prison, he had no information about his case and he did not meet with an interpreter. Apart from receiving some painkillers from the police, he did not have access to any medical care. Despite reporting some health issues, he was never taken to the hospital. Access to the shower was restricted to 2-3 hours per day, out of which there was no water at all. They had to buy their own hygiene items. Detainees had access to outdoor space all day. He was reportedly physically abused by the police on two occasions; because he asked for legal aid and because his interview to a journalist upon arrival had aired on television. He also mentioned that some people had gone on hunger strike to protest the conditions of their confinement.