276226
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 25th June 2024, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 2
- Duration of detention
- Less than 1 month
- Nationality
- Iran
- Age
- 44
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Unknown to respondent
- Detained before?
- Unknown
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- No
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes, in a police station
- Type of violence experienced
- Destruction of personal property
- Food deprivation
- Medical neglect
- Physical violence
- Threats and intimidation
- Verbal insult
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to medical aid?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to NGOs?
- No
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- Yes
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Unknown
- Appealed?
- Not applicable
- Number detained in cell
- 3
- Number detainees sharing WC
- 3
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Cell, shared
- Had access to phone?
- No
- Had access to WiFi?
- No
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- No
- Meal quality
- Not applicable
- Meal quantity
- None per day
- Had access to water?
- None
- Had access to outdoor space?
- No
- Had access to educational resources?
- None
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Sleeping on the ground
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- None
- Had access to mattress?
- None
- Narrative
The respondent is a 44 year old man from Iran. In February 2024, he was apprehended in Kissamos, Crete, by officers he believed to be police – identified through their uniform. The respondent described being verbally threatened and hit on the head multiple times by the officers. They also reportedly broke his mobile phone in the process. The respondent was then driven to Kissamos Police Station. Upon arriving at the station, he describes being subjected to further beatings by multiple officers identified as police: “One of the police officers came and stood close to my eyes. Then he pushed my head with one hand and I fell. When I stood up, all the police started attacking me.” The respondent was detained overnight in a cell described as extremely dirty and infested with cockroaches. He was provided a single blanket which appeared to have been used and not given a bed. Describing the experience, he shared that “even at this moment, when I’m talking about this situation, I feel very bad.” The respondent reported having no access to medical professionals, healthcare provisions or outdoor areas. In addition, the respondent did not receive food or water: “When I asked for water, they [police officers] told me you can drink water from the toilets.” Two other detainees were held in the cell, both from Egypt. The following day, the respondent described being “beaten very badly” by someone who introduced themselves as the prosecutor. He was then reportedly transferred to Chania Police Station, before being released. He concluded by saying: “When I came home, for ten days I could not walk because of the pain. It hurt me a lot. Alongside the physical problems, I have mental problems – I had a very bad experience.”