10. Minors 71 Then it’s the Greek officer who signs the papers co-validating in practice Frontex assessment. When you have to complain against the wrong nationality or age registration though, neither the Greek authorities nor Frontex accept any responsibility. »When we protested against the detention conditions some of us were beaten by the police.« O.M. (16) and F.N. (16), from Afghanistan206 were transferred to the special reception centre for unaccompanied minors in Agiassos, Lesvos where they stayed only for two days. »We were arrested in some other police station. There were only police officers and no interpreter translating for us. We stayed two days there in one cell with men, women and children and then they transferred us to Fylakio prison,« says O.M. He describes the devastating detention conditions: »The toilettes in our cell are very dirty. Both of them are clogged.It’s been a week since our cell is covered with sewage water. We all stand on the dirty waters and have to walk barefoot on it. We all got skin problems and a cold. When we want to go to the toilet. When we protested against the detention conditions some of us were beaten by the police.« ■ The two boys were both registered wrongly as Algerians even though the only language both speak is Afghan Dari. F.N. also received a copy of his Afghan identity card. Despite the intervention of GCR lawyers for the correction of their nationalities they were released with deportation orders registered as Algerians. They were arrested on April 10, 2011 by the police officers of Neo Chimonio border station in Orestiada (deportation order: April 12). They were detained almost 19 days until the April 29 in Fylakio detention centre in cell 2 with another 30-40 unaccompanied minors. After release they »I understood that they are going to deport me back to Turkey.« H.F. (17), from Iraq ■ Was registered as an adult although he was claiming to be 16 years old. His registered date of birth was 1.1.1986 while he claimed his real one was 15.1.94. He was arrested on October 11, 2010 and brought to Soufli border station. From there he was transferred to Feres and then again back to Soufli where he was detained in mixed detention together with adult men and women. »A Greek officer asked me in English how old I was. I told them I was a minor. I told them I was 16 years old. I saw the age they wrote on the paper they gave me. It was another age. […] After 18 days of detention I understood that they are going to deport me back to Turkey. I was very afraid. Together with one of my friends we tried to escape. The police came after us. They caught us and brought us back to the yard of the police station. Eight officers were beating us there for about half an hour. They beat us on all parts of our bodies. My friend faded away. They kept us for some hours outside in the cold with handcuffs. We were never brought to hospital.«212 206 O.M. and F.N. from Afghanistan; April 15,2011 – Fylakio A fax was sent by the Greek Council for Refugees informing the authorities about the age of H.F. During our December mission he was still in detention and his date of birth hasn’t been corrected. On December 22, 2010 GCR requested from the authorities in Alexandroupolis to know whether there was a date for his readmission. His readmission date had been issued for the next day – on December 23, 2010. In the afternoon GCR sent a fax of the national identity card of H.F. In the afternoon a fax was forwarded by GCR to the border guard police, with his identity card, proving his real age. The border guards on duty refused to register any application filled by the lawyers, give a protocol number or certify the receival of the document. The lawyers contacted the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity, the Greek police headquarters, the Greek ombudsman. Next day H.F was transferred to the borders in order to be readmitted. He was not readmitted and returned back to Soufli detention centre. The police referred him to hospital for medical examination (x-rays of his chest) in order to determine his age. The results showed he was 18 years old or older. No chance to challenge the ambigious medical exams was provided to him. He stayed in detention for six months. 212 H.F. from Iraq; December 18, 2010: Pro Asyl mission to Soufli border guard station.