465735
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 2022, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece
- Duration of detention
- 2 - 4 months
- Nationality
- Turkey
- Age
- 21
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Undocumented
- 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
- Forced undressing
- Strip search
- 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, limited
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Private lawyer
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- No
- Number detained in cell
- 8
- Number detainees sharing WC
- 10+
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Unknown
- Had access to phone?
- No
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- None
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- No
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Physical
- Yes
- Meal quality
- Satisfactory
- Meal quantity
- 2 per day, in police station
- Had access to water?
- Bottled
- Had access to outdoor space?
- More than 2h per day
- Had access to educational resources?
- Unknown
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- None
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- None
- Had access to mattress?
- None
- Narrative
The respondent is in his 20s and is from Turkey. He was arrested near Didymoteicho as he was trying to reach a police station to claim asylum. He was taken to a police station where he was held for two days and hit by the police, before being taken to Fylakio RIC where he was asked for his information. In the police station, there was no working toilet and no food or water was provided. The conditions in Fylakio were reported as slightly better, however he was not informed of the asylum procedure, and there was no translator present. After several days, he was taken to Xanthi PRDC. The food quality was poor in Xanthi, as well as the sanitary conditions where no cleaning products were provided. There was access to an outdoor space, and access to medical care. His friends organised a private lawyer for him, which led to him being released.