"I was in a lot of distress, I was worried something was going to happen”

The respondent is a man from Iran (age group 45-65) who was reportedly arrested in Omonia (Athens) between January and June 2023. At the time of his arrest, the respondent reported four police officers were present. He described them as two wearing blue uniforms and two, civilian clothes. Following his apprehension, the respondent was taken to Alledapon, a PRDC, where his fingerprints were taken. Subsequently, after what the respondent estimates to be “a few hours” he was transferred to Amygdaleza, a PRDC, where he was detained for a total period of 3 months. 

 

The respondent was reportedly in Greece for a year and a half. Following his arrival in Greece, the respondent planned an appointment to ask for asylum for which he received an interview. He explained receiving two rejections for asylum while in Greece, the latest being around January/February 2023. The respondent explained that the police officers arrested him because his documents were expired. He explained that he was waiting for the online asylum application system to re-open to renew his papers.

 

During his arrest, the police officers reportedly did not provide an explanation for the arrest other than stating that it was for investigation purposes. The respondent was then placed in what he defined to be a police van and brought to Allodapon. At Allodapon, the respondent reported staying in a room with 5-6 other people who were from Pakistan and Bangladesh. At Allodapon, the respondent reported having his fingerprints taken, and reports that those with whom he shared his room also had their fingerprints taken. He estimated being at Allodapon for a few hours. The respondent reported being placed in a blue van with a police sign together with the other 5-6 people, and transferred to Amygdaleza.

 

At Amygdaleza, the respondent signed a document written in Greek but interpreted for him with the help of a translator. According to the respondent, the document stated that he would stay in Amygdaleza for half a year before his situation would be evaluated. He reported signing the paper voluntarily.

The respondent described the conditions in Amygdaleza as “bad, I was in a lot of distress, I was worried something was going to happen.” The respondent explained first being placed in quarantine for four days. The population in this quarantine would reportedly fluctuate based on how many were discharged and admitted. It ranged, according to the respondent, between 10 to 30 people. However, the respondent described the space of the quarantine as small, where people could walk around a bit but could not go out. Furthermore, the respondent described the space being dirty with a foul odor, broken beds, thin unwashed blankets, and cold.

 

The respondent reported that once out of quarantine, people would be placed in isoboxes, which would be shared among three people. The conditions of these isoboxes were bad and unhygienic. The respondent specifically explained that the toilet facilities were very dirty. At Amygdaleza, breakfast, lunch, and dinner was provided but not of good quality. For medical care, the respondent reported a container related to care was open twice a week. To receive medical assistance, the respondent explained an appointment needed to be made first. Booking an appointment was challenging according to the respondent. He reported the doctor's availability as inconsistent despite the respondent’s high need for medical support at the time.

 

The respondent reported not facing violence from the authorities in Amygdaleza. He described some policemen being rude by shouting and refusing to speak English, but otherwise the behavior was normal. As previously mentioned, the respondent reported being in Amygdaleza for 3 months and explained he was eventually able to leave with the help of a private lawyer. At the time of the interview, the respondent was no longer in Amygdaleza, he shared being released two months prior.