273919
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 2022, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 2
- Duration of detention
- 6 - 12 months
- Nationality
- Afghanistan
- Age
- 22
- 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, in a PRDC
- Type of violence experienced
- Isolation
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- Yes
- Did the respondent have access to medical aid?
- Yes, limited
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- Yes
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Yes, NGO
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- Unknown
- Number detained in cell
- 4
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Unknown
- Had access to phone?
- Unknown
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Physical
- Meal quality
- Unknown
- Meal quantity
- Unknown
- 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?
- Unknown
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Provided
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is 22 years old and is from Afghanistan. He was arrested in Italy for trying to travel irregularly to reach his family in Germany. He was first taken to a small cell in a police station and then was detained in Amygdaleza PRDC for 7 months. Since he had no information about his case, he paid 500 Euros to a private lawyer, who disappeared. He was then offered legal aid from a Greek NGO. He further said that access to healthcare was very limited as they could never see a doctor and they were only given painkillers by detention staff. Access to hygiene items was very limited and the toilets were described as very dirty. He claimed that the police often used isolation in a dark room with no access to a toilet as a punishment. The respondent reported that a man from Pakistan who tried to set his cell on fire, was reportedly left in isolation for three months.