218588
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
- Unknown
- Nationality
- Iran
- Age
- 28
- Gender
- Male
- LGBTQI
- No answer
- Type of arrest
- Unknown
- Why was the respondent detained?
- Asylum seeker card expired
- Detained before?
- Yes
- Was the respondent informed of the duration of detention?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent experience any violence?
- Yes
- Type of violence experienced
- Hate speech
- Isolation
- Physical violence
- 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?
- Unknown
- Did the respondent have access to legal support?
- No
- Did the respondent apply for asylum?
- Yes
- Appealed?
- No
- Number detained in cell
- 10+
- Number detainees sharing WC
- 10+
- Hygiene rating
- Satisfactory
- Type of cell
- Room, shared
- Had access to phone?
- Unknown
- Had access to WiFi?
- Unknown
- Ventilation
- Unknown
- Participated in hunger strike / protest?
- Unknown
- Had conflicts with other detainees?
- No
- Meal quality
- Low quality
- Meal quantity
- 1 per day, in PRDC
- 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?
- Limited
- Had access to bed?
- Unknown
- Had access to laundry?
- Unknown
- Had access to toilet articles?
- Unknown
- Had access to mattress?
- Unknown
- Narrative
The respondent is 28 years old and from Iran. He was arrested in Athens because he had an expired asylum seekers card which he was unable to renew due to the Covid-19 closure of the asylum offices. He was subsequently taken to Tavros (Petrou Ralli) PRDC where he was detained for 5 months, before being transferred to Paranesti PRDC. While he was in Tavros (Petrou Ralli), he applied again for asylum, but was rejected. Due to a lack of information and lawyer, he did not know that he was rejected and could not appeal. He shared a room with 14 people in Paranesti, and reported no issues of conflict between detainees. The respondent reported racist abuse and poor treatment from the police in Paranesti. If detainees argue with detention authorities, they are reportedly sent to another room and physically beaten, before being sent back to their own room. Food is usually served once a day and there is only one doctor available for medical care. He reported that detainees have to wait 2-3 months to get an appointment. The respondent described a situation that he witnessed in Paranesti when a fellow detainee who had cancer needed medical support, and was released but not taken to hospital for treatment.