591280
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, October 2025
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece
- Duration of detention
- 2 - 4 months
- Nationality
- Egypt
- Age
- 34
- Gender
- Male
- Type of arrest
- Mass/sweep
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Illegal entry
- Detained before?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Threats and intimidation
- Verbal insult
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Yes
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to medical aid?
- Yes, but insufficient
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- No
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- No, but expressed
- Number detained in cell
- 6
- Type of cell
- Isobox/container, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Yes, own
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Yes, limited space
- Had access to bed?
- Shared
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Provided, limited
- Had access to mattress?
- Individual, thin
- Narrative
The respondent is a 34 year-old Egyptian national who arrived in Greece at the end of July 2025 and was subjected to the suspension of asylum applications. The respondent reported having to sign two documents upon arrival in Amygdaleza without understanding their contents as no translation was provided. The respondent’s phone - as well as those of all newly arrived detainees - was reportedly taken from him by the authorities for 4 days. He described being accommodated in a dirty 4-bed container with 5 other people. He described the detention facility as infested with vermin and recalled an incident in which detainees had to get rid of a snake themselves as the authorities refused to deal with it. Products to clean the containers were never provided to them, and personal hygiene items were provided once upon arrival. Detainees were reportedly not provided with bedsheets and blankets and had to request these items from other detainees. Access to healthcare was described as insufficient by the respondent who reportedly had to wait for 5 hours while being in extreme pain before being able to see the doctor of the facility. The respondent as well as other Egyptian nationals were reportedly transferred to another section of the facility in which overcrowding was such that two people were found sleeping in the toilets. The respondent explained that verbal violence and insults were very common from the authorities. Generally, Egyptian nationals were reportedly denied access to legal support and asylum procedures. The respondent explained that legal organisations were providing support to other nationalities that were eventually given access to procedures.