Is Greece Violating Refugees' Rights?

Lea Fournier July 2021

IS GREECE VIOLATING REFUGEES’ RIGHTS?

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS ON PROTECTING HUMAN DIGNITY Is Greece Violating Refugees’ Rights? A Critical Analysis on Protecting Human Dignity

Keywords: Greece, Refugee Rights, Violating, Migration, United Nations.

July 2021

Written by Lea Fournier

Chief Editors Dilara Yurtseven İbrahim Ergin Süleyman Kurt

Cover Photo: Anadolu Agency

Proofreading Rabia Reyyan Kara

For reference: Fournier, Lea. “Is Greece violating refugees’ rights?: A Critical Analysis on Protecting Human Dignity”, International Refugee Rights Association, July 2021, pp. 1-11.

This report has also benefited from the section focusing on Greece of the report untitled “Annual Torture Report 2020” prepared by “Border Monitoring Violence Network” in the framework of current developments.

Design MEF Media and Communication Furkan Kocagöz

Ali Kuşçu Mah. Fatih Türbesi Sokak No: 31 Daire: 2 , Fatih / İstanbul Phone: +90(212) 531 20 25 • Fax: +90(212) 531 20 26 • E-Mail: [email protected] ince the beginning of the migrati- key, they are the first European territories on wave to Europe in 2015, Greece that migrants can reach by sea and hope Shas become one of the key cros- to seek asylum. The agreement signed sing points and an entry territory to ac- between the EU and Turkey, which ente- cess Europe. In reaction to the migration red into force in March 2016, by reducing crisis, Europe finds itself divided between the number of migrants entering Europe those who welcome the flow of immig- due to a policy of “keeping migrants in ration by supporting the rights of people Turkey”, led to the transfer of migrants who are obliged to leave their country arriving in Greece in camps with the aim and those who regard migrants as a th- of being detained there for a short time reat. Thus, the countries on the borders in order to manage the migratory flow. of Europe are the first affected and divided by the- However, these camps do Greece is found to se concerns. Indeed, Gre- not seem to have been ece is found to be the first be the first European able to adapt to the inf- European crossing point crossing point that lux and number of mig- that migrants use, hoping rants arriving in Greece to reach other european migrants use, ho- every day. Thus, after ha- countries. ping to reach other ving crossed the Aegean Sea and taking the risk Following the 2008 eco- european countries. of being close to death, nomic crisis, Greece stru- migrants find themsel- ggled to regain a stable economy. After ves in overcrowded camps. According the “budget deficit scandal” in 2012, the to figures from the International Rescue country adopted the financial policies Committee , of the 120,000 asylum see- delineated by the Troika and the bud- kers in Greece, 20,000 are on the Greek getary policies determined by the Euro- islands. The difficult conditions of these pean Union, the European Central Bank islands are raised by multiple NGOs and and the International Monetary Fund. In migrants denouncing the lack of respe- addition to this difficult economic situa- ct of human rights. Sanitary conditions tion, since 2015, the migration crisis has as well as psychosocial mechanisms are been one of the most important pheno- still minimal, and are therefore leaving mena on the Greek agenda. Thus, the migrants in increasingly degrading con- migratory crisis seems to accentuate the ditions for their health and human dig- state of the economic situation by im- nity. pacting in particular unemployment and tourism. The debate on Greece respecting or not human rights has resulted in weakening Since Greek islands such as Kos, Symi, relations between the EU and Greece Meis, Lesbos and Chios are close to Tur- since the EU considers that Athens is fa-

1 iling to manage the fund of 554 million center of international discussions and euros given for this purpose effectively. policy making. The rise of nationalist governments in Europe further reinforces the fear of the As a consequence of conflicts happening impact of migrants and reflects the limits in the Middle East, forced migrants, for of European cooperation leaving border the most part, come to Turkey. Some of countries such as Italy or Greece to face them prefer to continue their journey to a flow of migrants that they can no lon- Europe. However, they rapidly face diffi- ger handle. culties crossing European borders. Inde- ed, on June 7, 2021, the Greek Migration Considering Greece’s role in the migra- Minister, Notis Mitarachi designated Tur- tion crisis and the debate on the respect key as a safe country for asylum seekers of human rights, analysing and questi- to ask for international protection. Ac- oning situations in which non-respect cording to Notis Mitarachi, Turkey meets of human dignity is underlined appears all criteria to examine asylum requests crucial. from citizens of Syria, Afghanistan, Pa- kistan, Bangladesh and Somalia, as there “they are not in any danger ... due to their race, religion, citizenship, political beliefs or membership in some particular soci- al group, and can seek asylum in Turkey instead of in Greece.” Therefore, Greece can return migrants without contradic- ting international law. However, this right does not justify the non-respect of human rights at its borders.

According to article 13 of the Universal In a report entitled “Recommended Prin- Declaration of Human Rights, “everyo- ciples and Guidelines on Human Rights ne has the right to leave any country, at International Borders”, OHCHR notes including his own, and to return to his that international borders are dange- country” . Forced migration refers to the rous places for migrants where human movement of displaced people due to rights can be violated. Indeed, OHCHR “persecution, conflict, generalized vio- undelines three main principles in or- lence or human rights violations” . In the der to guarantee the respect of human last 10 years, 100 million people have rights at international borders. The three been affected by this phenomenon. In principles are Priority of Human Righ- addition, since the refugee crisis started ts, Non-Discrimination and Assistance to become an issue at the European bor- and Protection from Harm. According to ders, forced migration has been at the the first principle, states should respect,

2 The three princiles [ at International border]

pushback events are Priority of Human which have affec- Rights, Non-Discrimi- ted approximately nation and Assistance 4,500 individuals. and Protection from In 2020, BVMN noted that almost Harm. 90% of all Greek pushback testimonies contained one or more types of torture or ill- treatment and therefore violates articles 1, 2.2 and 3.1 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture under 7 topics : excessive and disproportionate force, electric discharge weapons, forced undressing, threats or violence with a firearm, inhuman treatment inside police vehicles, inhuman treatment inside a detention facility, and confiscation of money.

Excessive and disproportionate force promote and fulfill human rights, while ensuring that they are at the centre of According to BVMN, 89% of refoule- all border governance measures. Within ments carried out by the Greek autho- the second principal, non-discrimination rities in 2020 are cases of disproporti- should be at the heart of all border go- onate and excessive use of force. This vernance measures. Based on the third alarming rate illustrates that the use of principle, states should protect and as- force in an abusive and unlawful manner sist migrants at international borders has become normal. Examples of dispro- without any form of discrimination and portionate police violence that have should take appropriate measures aga- been documented are excessive beatin- inst the principle of non-refoulement gs, water immersion, the physical abuse and arbitrary and collective expulsion. of women and children, the use of metal rods, batons, and heavy boots. Some Unfortunately, these principles are not testify that their hands were tied to the always respected. Border Violence Moni- bars of the cells and that a helmet was toring Network is a coalition composed placed on their head before being bea- of 13 NGOs whose aim is monitoring and ten to avoid visible consequences. These documenting illegal pushbacks and poli- assaults can leave permanent marks and ce violence along the EU’s external bor- extremely severe damages such as bro- ders. In 2019, BVMN has documented 89 ken bones or lapses of consciousness.

3 beating those who had the mischance to have an eye contact with them. Another similar event took place at the end of March 2020 in Kalamaria when a 33-year-old respondent was brought to the police station by the police to check his documents although he had presen- ted his valid asylum applicants card. At the station, the policemen brought documents written in Greek for him to sign with no interpreter provided.

The respondent signed the paper thin- king these were release papers. During custody, he was not given any food or water, and did not have access to toilets. Border Violence Monitoring Network. (June 21, 2020). Ipsala, Edirne, Turkey. Ret- rived from https://www.borderviolence.eu/violence-reports/june-21-2020-2100-ip- During the night, he was taken to the sala-edirne-turkey/ Police Headquarters in Thessaloniki by The testimony of a 21 year old male car with other migrants including three respondent, who was apprehended in minors who all had legal documents to the village of Orestiada near the Turkish remain in Greece and which were con- border, on 30 July, 2020, explains the fiscated by the police. difficult conditions which do not respect human rights they had to face when There, he was detained for 5 days in a cell arrested. They were not given food and with 20 people. Their documents were water, had water thrown to their faces, never returned to them, and the cameras put in a room with women and children, on everyone’s mobile phones were bro- had their clothes taken off and not add- ken in order to prevent any documenta- ressed in a language they understood. In tion. Then they were taken to the Drama addition to these conditions deteriora- Paranesti Pre-removal Detention Centre ting their dignity, officers were using vi- where he was detained for 3 months. olence and beating them whenever they They were put in cells with 10-15 per- wanted to ask for asylum. The respon- sons being given very little, bad and un- dent was beaten so badly with metal ba- healthy food. In addition, they were not tons that he could barely walk the next given any clothes, and were constantly day and still had bruises one month after subjected to insults and physical violen- the event. They were threatened with ce. When anyone had the courage to the words : “If you come back to Greece, ask questions, they were beaten. After 3 we will kill you.” When officers brought months inside Paranesti, the respondent them back at the border, they continued was pushed-back to Turkey, together

4 with 120 other people. During their last moments in Greece, they had their he- ads forcefully held and their hair cut by the officers and were beaten, minors and adults, with large metal batons for about 1 hour according to the respondent. This violence led to severe injuries for some people. The interviewee’s ribs were bro- ken and his leg was badly injured. Two persons from the group were unable to move and were unconscious.

Border Violence Monitoring Network. (April 27, 2020). Lavara, Evros. Retrived from Having identified the use of excessive https://www.borderviolence.eu/violence-reports/april-27-2020-2130-lavara-evros/ and disproportionate force by the Gre- the last three years and had an asylum ek police in almost 90% of testimonies applicants card identification provided from Greece, BVMN affirms that Article to asylum seekers, that regularised his 3 of ECHR is violated and is deeply con- stay in Greece. The respondent expla- cerned by the nature of the tactics uti- ins that since in Drama Paranesti people lized by the Greek police against peop- were regularly beaten by the aut le-on-the- move.

horities, many people took part in a hun- Electric Discharge Weapons (EDWs) ger strike. On the 23rd April 2020, police officers removed at least 24 people from A second deeply concerning practice is the centre including the respondent. the disproportionate and unnecessary They were told they would be taken to use of Electric Dischar- Amygdaleza in Athens but were taken BVMN identified ge Weapons. 10% of the to the Turkish border. At the border, over the use of excessi- testimonies recorded by the next 6 hours, officers used electric ve and dispropor- BVMN in 2020 contain tasers and water immersions to torment the use of EDW against tionate force by them. The respondent described how people-on-the-move in the Greek police the officers held his head under water, Greece. Furthermore, in almost 90% of “effectively drowning him.”Afterwards, considering the health the group was taken to the Evros River, testimonies. risks its use can cause, beaten with batons and threatened with the absence of any fol- knives. As a result of this treatment, many low-up procedure or suffered from injuries and were placed at medical aftercare for victims is additio- the hospital in Turkey. nally concerning.

The respondent who applied for asylum The respondent had been in Greece for in 2018 was awaiting the outcome of his

5 final interview, had possession of a valid These examples show that the use of asylum applicants card and had recently Electric Discharge Weapons was perfor- secured a job in construction. med in situations where there was no risk to life or injury to justify such use. While he was travelling in a bus, on April Indeed, EDWs are used against peop- 27th, the police stopped the bus and he le-on-the-move alongside physical as- and a dozen other passengers were for- sault, water immersion or forced und- ced off. After some time, the respondent, ressing and are therefore showing an who wanted to get information to take a abusive and violent tactic. As a consequ- new bus, stopped a passing car in which ence, BVMN denonces that the use of were travelling three men who claimed EDWs is an act of degrading treatment to be police officers. They ordered him or torture mentionned in Article 3, ECHR. to present his documents. He was then ordered to get on the floor and when he Forced Undressing didn’t immediately comply, he was assa- ulted, pushed, beaten with a metal pite BVMN highlights that in 2020, 44% of and kicked by the three men who began the testimonies they recorded contained to insult him. descriptions of people-on-the-move being forcibly undressed. As a consequen-

The respondent’s phone and asylum se- ce, BVMN is worried of the psychological ekers card were destroyed. They then and physical repercussions of these ta- reached the police station where he was ctics that are becoming an increasingly forcibly undressed and left in his underc- normalised facet of detention and push- lothes. While discussing among them- back events in Greece. selves, one of the officers explained that the respondent was registered as living A 28-year old man was travelling away in Athens but the “commander”yelled he from the Greek North Macedonian bor- would as well be taken to the river. der with his four friends. They were stopped by 6 Greek police officers who

Later, the respondent was brought to a asked about their nationalities, then as- room where the “commander” was wa- saulted them with batons and repeatedly iting with three other masked men. He kicked them. Their hands were zip-tied was beaten again with metal sticks and and they were then brought to the Pol- shot multiple times with an Electric Dis- ykastro Police department where they charge Weapon so that he could hand were left locked outside in a police car over his remaining documents and his for 1.5 hours. Afterwards, they were ta- money to the officers. Then, he was dri- ken to a caravan where they were sear- ven to the Evros River. With other detai- ched and forced to undress and to stay nees, he was forced to inflate a 3 meter only in T-shirts and shorts. When they raft and to board it. tried to contest, they were beaten. The next evening, they were put into a van

6 and driven to the army camp located not necessary and is used only for hu- near Ferres. They were taken to a large miliating and degrading purposes by the room with 20-30 other people including Greek police. As a result, this practice vi- a family and women with their children. olates Art. 3, ECHR. The military forced them to strip naked in front of the other people in the room, Threats or Violence with a Firearm humiliating and exposing them in front of men, women and children. As soon as The use of firearms during the pushba- they were all naked, the officers started ck process in Greece is another issue beating them with their batons. They that is raised by BVMN. Indeed, firearms were then brought to the Evros River to are declared to be used in 15% of tes- be returned to Turkey. timonies for beating, threat or warning purposes. On the 31st of August 2020, 16 people crossed the border from Meric, Turkey. The respondent is a 26-year-old man, 12 of them continued while the respon- who on Sunday 4th October 2020, along dent and three of his friends continu- with his group, crossed into Greece via ed by foot until they reached Alexand- the Evros River. On the 6th October, the roupoli where they were going to take group was apprehended by Greek poli- the bus. The officers got on the bus and ce officers. Since several men were afra- asked them for their nationality and for id, they started to flee. The police, while passports or other IDs. Considering that ordering them to stop, fired into the air. they did not have either, they were han- No one was targeted and the shots were dcuffed and driven to a detention site in fired to intimidate the group. Afterwards, Didymoteicho. Once arrived, one of the the officers started beating and kicking officers took him by his feet and drag- the group with batons while insulting ged him across the floor while another them. They set on fire all the personal burned him with his cigarette. Along belongings they could find in their poc- with 70-80 other individuals, they were kets and took them back to the Turkish forced to undress. Men, women and border. children were all in a single room and completely naked in front of each other. On the 10th of December 2020, the They stayed in this situation for around respondent along with 23 other peop- 24 hours and were then taken at the Ev- le-on-the- move left the Turkish coast. ros River. When their dinghy landed on Lesvos, someone from the transit group called Forced undressing of peop- the UNHCR. They said they would come le-on-the-move in police custody, being and asked for their location. In the mor- performed regularly and without any ning, the group called again and the necessity to prevent disorder or crime, is UNHCR informed them that they had

7 informed the authorities of the location ve raises the concern of BVMN. Indeed, of the transit group to take their group to BVMN underlines that the use of these the camp. The police arrived and moved vehicles is a deliberate attempt of the the group in the bushes. They started to Greek authorities to avoid administrative take their phones and belongings and oversight. began to beat them with batons, kick them and held them at gunpoint. They On the 9th of September the respondent, burned their papers and their belongin- a 50- year-old man, boarded a bus in gs. They were driven to the coast and Xanthi. The bus was stopped by the poli- put to a HCG vessel before arriving at ce who asked the respondent for his do- the Turkish coast. The HCG vessel was cuments. When the respondent showed already deflating and they had to be res- his valid temporary residency permit, the cued by the Turkish Coast Guards. officer said that he “needed to check the document” and asked the respondent to According to international law, the use exit the bus. The respondent was hand- of firearms by police authorities is only cuffed and his documents were torn up. authorised when it is clearly necessary He was then brought to a police station and proportionate. Otherwise, it consti- and placed in a large, filthy and overc- tutes a violation of Article 3, ECHR. The rowded cell along with 26 other peop- testimonies show that the use of fire- le. Their clothes, shoes, valuables and arms is targeted towards unarmed and money were taken. After nine hours in vulnerable people. Therefore, BVMN fin- the cell, the group was forced to enter a ds that the use of firearms by the Greek small minibus that did not have air-con- police is disproportionate. ditioning but only a few holes in the roof for ventilation and that therefore was in- Inhuman Treatment inside police ve- tolerably hot. They were in these condi- hicles tions for five hours. Many vomited from heatstroke, while others stripped beca- According to the research conducted use of the high temperature. When they by the BCMN in 2020, inhuman treat- arrived, they were placed in a room with ment inside police vehicles in Greece is 120 other people. The police attacked present in up to 19.7% of the collected and beat many people. Afterwards, the testimonies. Indeed, the testimonies re- respondent and his group were loaded port overcrowding and people standing into “the army’s big green buses”. There on top of each other for hours which was insufficient seating on the bus and is in contradiction to guidelines on the those standing up stifled the air of tho- detention and transportation of people. se below them. As a consequence, two The improvised vehicles such as freezer people fainted. They were brought to trucks or freight trucks for the purpo- the border. The dinghy was too small for se of transporting people-on-the-mo- the overcrowded group. The ones who

8 raised the concern of size were aggres- conditions have non negligible physical sively beaten. Just after the dinghy was and mental effects on the detainees due loaded, it capsized and everyone on bo- to the use of unsuitable vehicles and in- ard fell into the water. Two men tired of human conditions such as the lack of air. the previous conditions in the vehicule Therefore, BVMN identifies a violation drowned. of Article 3, ECHR as well as of Article 2, ECHR of the right to life since testi- The respondent, a 21-year-old was ap- monies recall that people have drowned prehended in the centre of Thessaloniki following the unbearable conditions in by eight police officers. He was loaded the vehicle taking them to the border. into the vehicle and brought to the Aris- totelous police station where he was Inhuman Treatment inside a detention held for three hours in a small cell with facility other people-on-the-move. They were not given food or water and had to ask to The inhuman conditions people on the use the toilets. After being transferred to moves have to endure are not limited Ampelokipi Police Department, he was to the pushback event itself, but rather placed once more in a small cell. The to their experiences of border zones. respondent was once more transferred Indeed, testimonies gathered by BVMN to Metagogon pre-removal detention in 2020 show that people-on-the-move centre in Thessaloniki where he shared who are detained face physical abuse, a cell with approximately 30 other pe- psychological torment, a lack of access ople. After a stop to Drama Paranesti De- to basic facilities like food, water, toilets tention Facility, he was taken to Soufli by and showers as well as the denial of the- a freezer truck. The officers closed the ir right to interpretation, information and doors and locked the group inside. The effective remedy regarding their deten- truck was white, old, and approximately tion. The use of informal detention sites 5 x 2 metres in size. The respondent was are identified by BVMN as an attempt of confined inside this truck with more the Greek authorities to escape or evade than 30 people and described his expe- administrative oversight when commit- rience as “we were breathing hard” and ting grave human rights abuses. “it was really hot.” They were then taken to the border. After four days of walking through Gre- ece, the respondent and his group were According to the testimonies recorded apprehended by six men in black clot- by BVMN, up to 999 people-on-the-mo- hes wearing balaclavas. After being be- ve have been transported under condi- aten and insulted, they were taken to a tions that could constitute a violation of detention site in Alexandroupoli. When international standards for the transpor- they arrived, they were forced to und- tation of detainees. In addition, these ress before being taken to a large room.

9 There were between 110 and 120 pe- 8×12 metres during 24 hours. During ople from mixed nationalities and gen- the day, it was extremely hot and du- ders in this room. There was no furni- ring the night extremely cold. They did ture, only a single dirty and stinky toilet not have food or water and drank from which was the only source of water the toilet. used by some detained, despite the smell, to drink. The officers were bea- The untenable conditions noted in all ting, heating and kicking people in the the diverse detention centers raises room. The respondent described that BVMN’s concern. The mass overcrow- they were laughing when hitting them. ding, without any separation of male, After being kept in the room for the female or child detainees raises signi- whole day, they were given clothes and ficant concerns, due to the persistent crammed into the vehicle before being use of forced undressing. In addition, taken to the border. not giving food, water, sanitary facilities and beds constitute a violation of On the evening of the 12th September, Greece’s international obligations. The- the respondent, a 31-year-old male, refore, there is once more a violation of and his friend were walking beside the Article 3, ECHR during the detention of port of Thessaloniki when they were people-on-the-move. arrested by the police. They were taken to a dark place and were beaten Confiscation of Money and Phones and kicked. Then, they were handcuf- fed and taken to a station. They were In interviews conducted by the Inter- left with no food or water, insulted and national Refugee Rights Association beaten again. The next day, they were with refugees, it was stated that when transferred to Thessaloniki police he- refugees crossed to the Greek side, the adquarters where they were searched Greek police confiscated their bags, and forced to sign documents in Greek phones, wallets, passports and money. without any translation provided. Du- In addition, dozens of separate cases of ring the 28 hours the respondent sta- migrants being thrown into the Evros yed at the police headquarters, he re- river after their belongings were confis- ceived one meal and a small bottle of cated were confirmed by interviewing water (0,5l). He was then put in a van the victims. without windows or seats and driven to another station. They drove to anot- The main reasons why refugees want her location close to Komothini which to go to Europe are the inability to ob- was described by the respondent as a tain refugee status in Turkey, the diffi- temporary building made of plastic and culties they face in obtaining legal sta- metal. They were all put together with tus, their inability to obtain citizenship, 75 people in a room of approximately and the problems of accessing emp-

10 loyment opportunities and economic dif- Testimonies show that Greece violates ficulties due to the high number of refu- articles 1, 2.2 and 3.1 of the United Nati- gees in the country. ons Convention Against Torture.

Turkey is among the transit countries The violations occuring in Greece are where some migrants cannot envision a adressed under 6 topics : excessive and future due to the high number of mig- disproportionate force, electric discharge rants that the country hosts. However, weapons, forced undressing, threats or Greece considers Turkey as a safe third violence with a firearm, inhuman treat- country and tries to send back migrants ment inside police vehicles and inhuman coming through Turkey. treatment inside a detention facility.

To conclude, these 8 examples outlined Considering Greece’s role in the migra- by the BVMN highlight the striking reality tion crisis, Greece should focus more concerning the respect of human rights on respecting human rights at its bor- and refugee rights in Greece. In addition, ders. NGOs focusing on refugee rights in even if these cases have been classified Greece, should tackle this issue and take by the BVMN under 7 main violations adequate action on their territory of human rights, when reading the tes- References timonies, it is alarming that in many cases, multiples violations are reported by a • “Greece says many migrants in Turkey could seek asylum single respondent’s experience. Indeed, in there.” AP News. (2021, June 7). Retrieved from URL https:// a single testimony can occur two or more apnews.com/article/turkey-middle-east-greece-euro- of the following violations: excessive and pe-immigration-ba380c78c3a8b460d6192b5494963768 disproportionate force, electric dischar- • International Rescue Committee. (2021). “Refugees in ge weapons, forced undressing, threats Greece”. Retrived from https://www.rescue-uk.org/ or violence with a firearm, inhuman tre- country/greece#what-caused-the-crisis-in-greece. atment inside police vehicles, inhuman treatment inside a detention facility, and • Uluslararası Mülteci Hakları Derneği, (2020) “Avrupa Sını- confiscation of money and phones. rında Yaşanan Gelişmeler: Araştırma ve Gözlem Raporu”, ss.1-22.

Therefore, the situation is in desperate • United Nations. (1948). Universal declaration of human need of concrete action to further pro- rights. Retrived from https://www.un.org/en/udhrbook/ tect and respect refugees’ rights in Gree- pdf/udhr_booklet_en_web.pdf ce. As a consequence, NGOs focusing in • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2015). this field in Greece, should tackle in depth UNHCR Global Trends Forced Displacement in 2014. Ret- the issue raised in the BVMN’s report and rived from https://www.unhcr.org/556725e69.html should take adequate action on their territory. * This report has also benefited from the section focusing on Greece of the report untitled “Annual Torture Report 2020” prepared by “Border Monitoring Violence Network” in the framework of current developments.

11 IS GREECE VIOLATING REFUGEES’ RIGHTS?

The violations occuring in Greece are adressed under 6 topics: Excessive and disproportionate force, electric discharge weapons, forced undressing, threats or violence with a firearm, inhuman treatment inside police vehicles and inhuman treatment inside a detention facility.

Testimonies show that Greece violates articles 1, 2.2 and 3.1 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

Considering Greece’s role in the migration crisis, Greece should focus more on respecting human rights at its borders.

NGOs focusing on refugee rights in Greece, should tackle this issue and take adequate action on their territory.