902637
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
- Less than 1 month
- Nationality
- Turkey
- Age
- 45
- Gender
- Female
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Mass/sweep
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Undocumented
- Detained before?
- Yes
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Blunt instrument
- Hate speech
- Physical violence
- Theft
- 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?
- Yes, upon visit
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Yes, upon request
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- Unknown
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Low quality
- Type of cell
- Isobox/container, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Yes, own
- Had access to WiFi?
- No
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- No
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- No
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 2 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?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Yes
- Had access to laundry?
- Manual
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Individual
- Narrative
The respondent is 45 years old and from Turkey. She was apprehended in a field close to Didymoteicho, where she had her belongings including her phone and money taken away from her. She was taken to a police station where she asked for asylum. She was held in cells that were dirty and without a functioning bathroom. The cells smelt of urine and were extremely dirty. She was subsequently transferred to Fylakio RIC, where she was held in containers with beds and a bathroom but in poor condition. The food was provided 2-3 times a day, but was old and always the same. There was restricted access to outdoor spaces. Due to her friends organising a lawyer to support her, she was able to meet them in the centre, although not privately. She reported that there were police in dark blue uniforms, and some in green uniforms with yellow writing, military style. She additionally noticed some police who were in civil clothing. When she was apprehended, the police physically beat members of her group with a baton and insulted her. She was released after 2 weeks with the support of her lawyer.