992177
Testimony- Testimony collected by
- Border Violence Monitoring Network
- Date and location recorded
- 10.05.2024,Thessaloniki
- Detention centre related
- Detention Centre Country
- Greece 2
- Duration of detention
- Less than 1 month
- Nationality
- Iran
- Age
- 42
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Individual
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Criminal charges
- Detained before?
- Unknown
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- Yes
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes, in a police station
- Type of violence experienced
- 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?
- 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?
- No
- Appealed?
- No
- Number detained in cell
- 6
- Number detainees sharing WC
- Unknown
- Hygiene rating
- Unknown
- Type of cell
- Cell, shared
- Had access to phone?
- No
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- No
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- Unknown
- Meal quality
- Unknown
- Meal quantity
- 3 per day, in police station
- Had access to water?
- Unknown
- Had access to outdoor space?
- No
- Had access to educational resources?
- Unknown
- Had access to religious space?
- Unknown
- Had access to electricity?
- Unknown
- Had access to bed?
- Individual
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Individual
- Narrative
The respondent is a 42 year old man from Iran. In July 2021, he was arrested in Athens by officers who he believed to be Greek police. The respondent described being physically beaten and subjected to verbal abuse by the officers during his apprehension. He was brought to the Agios Panteleimon police station in Archarnon, Athens, where he stayed for what felt like ten minutes before being transferred to the Attica Police Headquarters (GADA). The respondent explained he was held in GADA for five days. In Agios Panteleimon, the respondent reportedly had his phone confiscated by officers wearing civil clothing. These officers also reportedly subjected him to psychological violence – for example, saying “we will break your life” and “we have information from the lawyer which will keep you in jail for the rest of your life.” At the Attica police headquarters, access to medical treatment was described as limited and requests for professional medical assistance were denied. He was informed that he had the right to a lawyer. However, he was unable to do so until he attended the court hearing, five days after being detained, due to having neither a phone nor contact number. The respondent describes feeling mocked by officers, stating “they were laughing with each other and saying they planned to take me so I would stay longer than usual.” Detainees were also reportedly not permitted to go outside. Most detainees the respondent spoke with were non-Greek nationals, originating from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Morocco, Egypt, Syria and Palestine.