4.1. Y., from Eritrea 44 4. Individual Cases of Police Violence “I left my country because I had political pro- Incident 2: blems. I want to apply for asylum, but it has “This morning the police entered our home 45 not been possible yet. I have already got an ap- and burned everything: all of our personal bepointment with the Red Cross for my asylum longings, our clothes and the food… They deapplication, but I still haven’t any with the po- stroyed everything. Even a medicine bottle… lice. They always say: ‘after, after, after!’ They set fire and burned everything. They know Wherever I go in Patras I am afraid. I came there is no other place where we can stay. They here on January 1, 2012. Up to today, the police know we search for food in the garbage.” beat me eleven times for no reason. I have been arrested and “deported” three times to Athens Incident 3: [the term “deport Athena” is used by the mig- “The worst thing that has ever happened to me rants to describe their transfer to Athens, when was when the police arrested me in January arrested by the police]. The police constantly 2012. I was brought to the police station, as I insult us. I have been insulted on several oc- had no documents. They undressed me. I even casions: ‘malaka, gamisou…!’ They insult us had to take off my underwear and was subjecbecause of the colour of our skin or our religi- ted to a strip search.” on. Once they told my friends and me: ‘Greece is bad. Greece is number one in Europe. Go to 46 your country… We are mafia’. I am always afraid. The police can beat me everywhere. Come and walk with me for a “The “commandos” beat me up twice. The powhile though the streets of Patras and you will lice have never managed to catch me. During see! I am even afraid to go to the Red Cross of- the last month, the situation has worsened a fices in the city centre. lot here. They beat us up all the time. It was not Once some fascists beat up a Sudanese, who like that before. The “commandos” themselhad a “pink card”. He went to the police to sue ves come to the factory and say we are always them and report the incident, but they told him talking to the journalists about our beatings to leave. There is no protection! When I walk in and for this reason they beat us even more the streets some people make the sign of the now. The “commandos” always insult us. Usucross while passing by as if I am a danger. ally, they call us ‘malaka’. Some other officers In the end what is the sense and the benefit they do not really say anything, they just beat of having a “pink card”? The police beat also us up. If there are any witnesses around, i.e. those who are “pink card” holders – even more tourists, they take us politely from the shoulthan the others. It is a shame for your country der to a remote place where nobody can see what is happening here.” us. Then they just beat us up. They make us queue up and then beat us. During the winIncident 1: ter, they forced us to jump into the cold water. “One day as I was walking on the street, a police Sometimes, they force us to lie on the ground officer appeared from behind on his motorcyc- and then they step on our heads and move le. Without any warning he hit me with his mo- their feet back and forth, as if they were extorcycle. He immobilized me; he lifted his hand tinguishing a cigarette. The police never beat and punched me in the side of my body.” us in front of other people in the city of Patras. Violence is always well hidden.” 4.2. M., from Afghanistan 44 Interview held on April 4, 2012 in Patras 45 He is referring to the abandoned factory of “Peiraiki Patraiki” where he and his friends were staying 46 Interview held on April 3, 2012 in Patras 26 “They chased me around and I ran as if I were a cat.” 27