Tag Archive for 'detention'

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Fylakio in September 2011

Yesterday we received a phone-call from relatives of Syrian refugees, who have been prisoners in Fylakio (Northern Greece) since a few days:

Today I talked with somebody who was released a few days ago from Fylakio prison about his experiences there. He didn’t want to talk about it first. He said he didn’t want me to feel sorry for something that happened to him, and make me suffer, me and my family. But I said to him: “Tell me the whole truth. The people have to know what happens in there!” Continue reading ‘Fylakio in September 2011’

Revolt in Fylakio detention centre: 3rd September 2011

On Saturday afternoon immigrants held in the detention center of Fylakio, Evros, set fire to mattresses.
Border police forced the inmates out of the building, where they were guarded by riot police units, while fire brigade that arrived from the city of Orestiada managed to put out the fire.
One immigrant was transferred by ambulance to the Medical Center of Orestiada.
This revolt is only one of many. Immigrants detained in Fylakio and other detention centres and prisons have been struggling for their freedom and access to their basic rights ever since.
greek article in Preza TV 6th of September 2011

Only recently the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced that for almost a month, there has been no medical care to immigrants and asylum seekers in detention in Evros region.

Meanwhile, greek navy and coast police keep searching for survivors from early Saturday shipwreck near the island of Kefalonia. Unfortunately the number of dead will probably rise to 19.

see also:
http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/

Death of migrant in the aliens prison Elliniko near Athens gives rise to protests of co-detainees

Friday the 15th of July 15 Goulam Bamper Khan, a 27-year old immigrant from Pakistan, was found dead in the new detention center of Elliniko (close to Athens). He had been asking for a doctor repeatedly, but the only thing the detention center authorities did was to notify an unskilled member of a NGO, who just subscribed some medicine. Hours after this so-called medical examination, Goulam Bamper Khan fainted. Other inmates asked for an ambulance, but this was considered “not necessary”. Finally Goulam Bamper Khan died. Immediately riots broke up, as 98 inmates started shouting and pushing their cells’ doors. Riot police entered the detention center, chose 8 immigrants and started beating them up “to give a lesson to the rest”.
On Monday the 18th of July, these 8 immigrants were charged for arsoning, escape attempt, rebellion provoking, rioting and damaging the detention center…
see: http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/

letter from the hunger strikers of Soufli 09.05.11


soufli: letter of hunger strikers (in Greek)

NEW poster: detention letter

in English:

in Greek:

hunger strike in Soufli detention centre since 28th of April!!!!!

12 refugees detained in Soufli border guard station in the region of Evros started at the 28th of April 2011 a hunger strike in protest against the detention conditions and demanding freedom. Among them are: 5 Iranians, 3 Iraqis, 2 Syrians, one Turk and one Nigerian. Six of them are asylum seekers. The average detention time of the hunger strikers varies from 10 days to more than 5 months!!!!!
Due to the inhuman and degrading detention conditions in Soufli border guard station which has an official capacity of 25, but hosts in average around 130-160 sans-papiers or even more, the hunger strike becomes more and more difficult and dangerous for their lives. The struggling refugees drink only water, salt and sugar, which they have to buy in order to have access. Out of the originally 12 strikers, thus, now have remained 7.

See the latest article about the hunger strike (in Greek):
http://tvxs.gr/news/ελλάδα/σε-απεργία-πείνας-μετανάστες-κρατούμενοι-στο-σουφλί-έβρου

Taking stock of the new asylum procedure in Greece: The selective application of new asylum law in Greece

The reform of the Greek Asylum Procedure was welcomed by Europe in the beginning of 2011. We ask: Is it really an improvement?

As far as one can observe until now the new asylum law is only selectively being applied. Additionally, the new procedures confront severe practical obstacles. We have not seen any improvement for refugees in Greece only a worsening of the situation. Migration and asylum policy are the very heart of the civil society and the state. Can we afford to look the other way and ignore severe human rights abuses of the most vulnerable parts of our society? There is a great importance in denouncing the continuance of human rights violations and, thus, in fighting against a European propaganda that will soon enough again beautify and mask the tragic reality of refugee life in Greece in order to protect the Dublin II regulation and start again the returns/ deportations of refugees back to Greece.

Continue reading ‘Taking stock of the new asylum procedure in Greece: The selective application of new asylum law in Greece’

freedom

I stayed six months in detention in Evros. Not once we were allowed to go outside in the yard. My only chance was to beg the officers of the ‘good’ shifts to carry out the garbage. Only then I could see the sky for one minute, breath the air of freedom.

letters from the prisons of Evros

To whom it may concern

This is to inform the authority of UN that the female prison of Alexandra police Ferix (Ferres) need freedom, because most people here are due to be free. Most of them are three months and two months plus. And the environment we are is not good, example, the toilette and bathroom are attached to the room where we are sleeping, so when the water stopps running and there is no water to clean the toilette, it becomes impossible to sleep the room. In that case we all go outside to sleep.
We desire to know the reason why we black Africans are not released on time, while the white Africans are been released on time.
So therefore we have decided not to eat, because we need freedom, if they don’t free us, something terrible will happen. But all the same, we need freedom.
May god bless you. Amen.

I am talking as one of the detainees of this prison:

1. There is no freedom of speech here
2. We can not sleep in silence and safety
3. There is not enough food for all
4. There is no clean place to pray.
5. We want food that respects our religious restrictions on eating pork
6. The toilettes and shower are not clean, no humans can use them
7. The police officers does not respect religions in fascists way both muslim and christian and they don’t allow us to pray
8. There is no doctor and proper farmacy to take care of the sick
9. The cells are dirty, it smells, we are all sick. We all have skin problems and psychological problems

We all demand from the government to free us, to let us go to work in Europe.
We all came to Europe for work. We didn’t come here to cause trouble. We all left our countries because we were poor and hungry; there was no democracy in our home. We left because of the fascism we faced in our countries.

Please see our problems with a human eye and with mercy

In the name of god

Everybody knows that the reason why all the young people leave from their home countries is that they cannot live without freedom and justice.
This is why we chose this road.
This is why we are suffering. We regret our choice. The reason? Here in prison we are not fine. They violate our rights; there cannot be human rights within four walls. I don’t know what to think. We have been injured and our wounds teach us to flee to Greece – for the freedom. They teach us to live and claim our rights. But it is worse than we thought. I don’t know what to think; I don’t know which other road to follow. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know where I will be.
Return, Europe or prison.
We had smiles and hope, but Greece embraced us with racism and with hate. A bitter hate and anger. My asylum is no sin. Why do we have to be here? The prison has burned our minds. I am sorry that I cannot describe all my life to you, but only I can write a small letter. Because I hate myself so much, I cannot even speak. Thank you for your co-operation, your help and for reading this letter.

From the detainees

“I come from problem. I don’t want to be a problem!”

I come from problem. I don’t want to be a problem.

Jawed Nouri, Afghan refugee in Bulgaria
Interview made during the Infomobile-Tour (July-August 2010)

My name is Jawed Nouri. I am from Afghanistan citizen, and I am 24 years old and now I am in Bulgaria asking for asylum. Until now not successfully. I entered Bulgaria in 2003 and still I am here. Why we left Afghanistan, this I want to explain. And I also want to talk about Bulgaria and why I was in prison for three years!

Continue reading ‘“I come from problem. I don’t want to be a problem!”’