041444
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 31st March 2023, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 4
- Duration of detention
- 6 - 12 months
- Nationality
- Syria
- Age
- 32
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Mass/sweep
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Criminal charges
- Detained before?
- Yes, in a police station
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Blunt instrument
- Physical violence
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Yes, in Greek
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to medical aid?
- Yes
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Private lawyer
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Unknown
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- 10+
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- High quality
- Type of cell
- Room, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Yes, shared
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Unknown
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 2 per day, in prison
- Had access to water?
- Unknown
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Unknown
- Had access to educational resources?
- Unknown
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Individual
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is 32 years old and of Syrian nationality. He was arrested upon arrival in the region of Evros and was transferred to a police station in Didimoticho, where he was told he was arrested for being a smuggler. There, he and one of his compatriots were separated from the rest of their group and were physically assaulted by four men in dark blue/black uniforms. They were beaten on their legs and arms with batons, while the men were shouting at them that they were the smugglers. They were then brought to the court in Orestiada where they were formally accused of being the smugglers of the small dinghy and after a short stay in Orestiada police station, they went to Komotini prison. They had their fingerprints and photos taken and they were also reportedly forced to sign papers in Greek. They were reportedly informed by police that they had the right to hire a lawyer. After nine months, he was transferred to Nafplion prison, where at the time of his arrival were 60 persons detained. The respondent mentioned that people stayed in 16 or 8 bed rooms and that hygiene was very good as the men themselves cleaned their space every day. They reportedly had access to hot water for showers but according to him meals were of bad quality and were offered only twice a day. While they did not have access to their mobiles, they could use fixed phones in the prison. He had access to medical care and he reported getting an x-ray and a covid test while there “There is a doctor and a psychologist inside, yes. If you ask for a doctor you will find one.” He reported good treatment from the officers at both Komotini and Nafplion prisons “It was fine. There wasn’t any racism.” Regarding access to legal aid he said “the paid lawyers are better than the ones that the government provides so that’s why everybody even if they don’t have money they don’t ask for a lawyer from the government.”