in short time scales, leading to negative decisions.
The administrative and logistical barriers that people
have to overcome in order to navigate the legal
systems in detention centres are significant, without
the additional burden of misinformation, lack of
interpretation or access to legal counselling and their
rights.
Overall, our research evidences the lack of numerous
procedural safeguards across PRDCs in Greece,
resulting in a void of clear information and
understanding by detainees regarding their legal
rights, status, the asylum procedure, the reasons for
their detention and the length of time that they
would be held. 70% of respondents across PRDCs
demonstrated confusion over these topics, explaining
the little communication they received from
authorities or the asylum service leaving them in a
legal limbo. These issues raise concern as to people’s
right to effective remedy, making it impossible for
individuals to understand the reasoning for their
detention, or how to challenge it.
Source: Xanthi PRDC room, MIT respondent
No, they had an asylum office so you wait and
whenever your turn comes you do your
interview and they don't tell you until the date.
They don't inform you a week before, just they
call you at 8 o’clock and you wake up and you
do your interview.
Ali, Paranesti
Yes, I asked for asylum in detention. I don’t
speak English or Greek so I couldn’t understand
anything. No, [there was no translator]. One
time in the camp there was someone who spoke
Turkish who helped, but otherwise no.
Aslan, Xanthi
55