AL.K. v. Greece

Court rulings

Type of violation

Summary of case: Greek police arrested and detained the applicant, an Iranian national, at the border near Feres. Authorities later transferred him to Soufli where he remained in detention until two days after the maximum six month period. Whilst in detention, the applicant lodged many objections and submitted an asylum application, all of which were unsuccessful. After release, the applicant became homeless and lived in destitution. Moreover, he was unable to acquire basic requirements such as a tax identification number, work permit, or employment due to the renewal of his asylum receipt listing three months instead of six months. Relying on reports from the Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the UNHCR, and the Greek Ombudsman, in addition to the lack of counterargument from the Greek government, the Court ruled the detention conditions at Feres and Soufli violated Article 3. Furthermore, the Court decided the extreme suffering the applicant faced after release resulted from the failure of Greek authorities to take into account the essential needs and vulnerability of the applicant, amounting to a violation of Article 3 as well.

Related detention centre

Link to external source: https://www.asylumlawdatabase.eu/en/content/ecthr-alk-v-greece-application-no-6354211-11-march-2015#content

Supporting files