363546
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 20th September 2023, Thessaloniki, Northern Greece
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 2
- Duration of detention
- 4 - 6 months
- Nationality
- Iran
- Age
- 50
- 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?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Verbal insult
- Was the respondent forced to sign documents?
- Yes, in Greek
- Did the respondent have access to translation?
- Yes, in a PRDC
- 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?
- Yes
- Number detained in cell
- 4
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Very poor
- Type of cell
- Isobox/container, shared
- Had access to phone?
- No
- Had access to WiFi?
- No
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Unknown
- Meal quality
- Very poor
- Meal quantity
- 3 per day, in PRDC
- Had access to water?
- Unknown
- Had access to outdoor space?
- Unknown
- Had access to educational resources?
- Library
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Individual, thin
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Individual, thin
- Narrative
The respondent is 50 years old and is from Iran. He was apprehended in Athens, subsequently held in Petrou Ralli Pre-Removal Detention Centre (PRDC) for two hours and then transferred to Amygdaleza PRDC for three months. The respondent reported that his asylum application was rejected twice. Upon apprehension, he was reportedly not provided with information explaining the arrest other than stating that it was to investigate the respondent. Upon arrival at Petrou Ralli the respondent had his fingerprints taken. He was held in a room with six other people from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Upon arrival at Amygdaleza, the respondent reported signing a paper in Greek which an interpreter translated for him. The paper reportedly stated that he would have to stay around six months in the facility and his situation would be evaluated after this time. The respondent was subsequently held in quarantine for four days in a space described as “small, smelly, dirty, with broken beds, thin and unwashed blankets”, without being given the possibility of going out of the room. The conditions in Amygdaleza were described as bad. “I was in a lot of distress, I was worried something was going to happen.” Subsequently the respondent was moved to an isobox shared with three other people. The conditions were reportedly bad and unhygienic. Toilet facilities were reportedly very dirty. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were provided but not of good quality. For medical care, there was reportedly a container open twice a week and for which an appointment needed to be made. However, it was reportedly challenging to book an appointment because the doctor’s availability was limited. The respondent reported some officers at the PRDC being rude by shouting and refusing to speak English.