Despite subsequent visits to Greece, the CPT has not made any follow-up visits to Corinth PRDC since 2015.
However in 2015, the report raised a number of concerns, predominantly referring to the lack of information
detainees received as well as poor access to health care.[85] Notably, the lack of presence of any doctor for
six months prior to the visit led to one untrained officer being responsible for managing the health care of
hundreds of detainees.[86] As of the end of 2021, there was only one doctor present in Corinth, despite the
fact that the law requires authorities to guarantee access to health care for detained asylum seekers, and the
CPT having long urged the Greek authorities to improve the medical situation in detention.[87]
Our Findings
Mobile Info Team obtained the highest percentage
of testimonies from individuals who had been
detained in Corinth, although several had
previously been detained elsewhere in police
stations or other PRDCs.
We spoke to 17 men between the ages of
16-38 years old who were detained in
Corinth at some point since 2020 from the
following countries of origin:
Togo
We interviewed 17 people who had been in Corinth
who were all male between the ages of 16 and 38
(one individual who we discovered was a minor in
retrospect). Over 20% of individuals mentioned that
minors were frequently detained in Corinth, despite
this being illegal. This issue has also been raised by
lawyers from Equal Rights Beyond Borders.
Afghanistan
Iran
Egypt
Pakistan
2
2
1
7
5
There were a few people, they arrested many Afghani people and some of them were minors,
around 16 or 17 years old. But they were there. They didn't help them to be held separately, like in
a minor's place or something else. They just never listened to us. They are also giving a lot of
rejections…Exactly they have their Tazkira [Afghan ID] and they have these documents. I've seen
some of them. They really were minors.
Sardar, Corinth
Seven of the people we interviewed were from Afghanistan, however we spoke with people from Egypt, Togo,
Pakistan and Iran. Since 2015 however, the majority of people being held in Corinth were from North Africa,
Pakistan or Bangladesh, covering countries with low recognition rates.[88] Everyone we spoke to reported
that they were arrested on the grounds of being undocumented, and over 90% of detainees had tried to apply
for asylum, or were still in the asylum procedure and had submitted an appeal. Six detainees that we spoke to
had also been detained in other police stations or PRDCs, including Amygdaleza and Tavros (Petrou Ralli)
PRDCs. A significant lack of information regarding individuals’ application status in detention was apparent,
with only five people mentioning having had access to a lawyer, two of which were paid for and organised
privately.
22