832009
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
- More than 24 months
- Nationality
- Pakistan
- Age
- 44
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Undocumented
- Detained before?
- Yes
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- Yes
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- No
- Type of violence experienced
- Not Applicable
- 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?
- No
- 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
- 10+
- Hygiene rating
- Low quality
- Type of cell
- Unknown
- Had access to phone?
- Yes, without camera
- Had access to WiFi?
- No
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Yes
- Meal quality
- Satisfactory
- Meal quantity
- 2 per day, in police station
- Had access to water?
- Tap
- Had access to outdoor space?
- More than 2h per day
- Had access to educational resources?
- Library
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unlimited
- Had access to bed?
- Shared
- Had access to laundry?
- Manual
- Had access to toilet articles?
- None
- Had access to mattress?
- Shared
- Narrative
The respondent is 44 years old and is from Pakistan. He was first arrested in Xanthi due to not having documents, however he has been in Greece since 1996 and in Xanthi detention centre four times. In total, he was detained for 33 months, in a cycle of detention, release and re-detention. He applied for asylum multiple times in Xanthi, with support from a private lawyer. In Xanthi, he shared a room with four people, although this was subject to change. There was running water and electricity but the sanitary conditions were extremely poor. Two toilets and showers were shared between 100 people, and were not provided with toilet paper. The first time he was detained in Xanthi, he reported that there were laundry facilities, but in subsequent times they had to wash their clothes by hand. There is large space outside for people to use, but there are no recreational activities provided. Despite the presence of a psychologist, nurses and a doctor, there is limited access to medical care.