Respondents also noted the general lack of
interaction between detention facility staff
and detainees, unless they were being
counted at night, asked for information or
punished for ‘misbehaviour’. When they
were spoken to, respondents mentioned that
they were frequently referred to by their
detention numbers, rather than by name.
Furthermore, they reported unprovoked
verbal insults and racist remarks by the
authorities, as well as the use of handcuffs
contributing to treatment associated with
crime. This had a visible impact on the
mental wellbeing of detainees.
If I had been a drug dealer, I wouldn't
have to stay for one year. Back home in
Tunisia I would just stay a few months
and go out. I felt like a criminal without
doing anything.
Yes I applied for asylum at the camp, they asked me for my
personal details, I gave them a quick interview and they
don’t care about it, they applied for that and they just
treat me so bad and then they just they took me from
Fylakio to Drama and in a really bad situation, like a
criminal, they took me in a closed van, they took me to
Drama and it was so bad.
Makan, Fylakio and Paranesti
It's so stressful for the people inside. Some people get
angry when they don’t get their rights, like medicine and
sometimes they don’t give them what they need and they
start to climb the fence and protest and don't take the food
and start shouting. I felt like a criminal without doing
anything.
Walid, Paranesti
They act like we are criminals. Not only
for me, for everybody there.
When they arrest me they just kick me in the car and the
behaviour was so bad and just.. they behaved to me as if I
was a criminal and with their equipment that they have…
There's something they put in their hands, for criminals,
handcuffs.
Abdul, Corinth
Fazal, Corinth
Walid, Paranesti
Source: Xanthi PRDC, MIT respondent
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