“The conditions are not okay for a human being to live there”

The respondent is a Turkish national who reported arriving in Greece in the last quarter of 2025. He described being detained for two weeks in a police station and being asked questions related to personal information and his journey to Greece. The respondent reported not being given explanations on the reasons why he was arrested in the police station. Reportedly, after spending two weeks in the police station, he was transferred to the Pre-Removal Detention Centre in Corinth.

The respondent reported being vaguely informed that the length of his detention could amount to 18 months. He explained that he was asked to sign documents when transferred to Corinth, but was unable to clarify what those documents were as no interpretation or explanation were reportedly provided to him. The respondent stated that : “they were just putting a paper in front of us and told us to sign”. He added that interpretation was provided when he signed the documents to register his asylum application in Corinth. This application was reportedly rejected, and the respondent reported that he appealed the negative decision.

The respondent also noted that his request to access a lawyer was denied. He was reportedly told by authorities in the facility that: “there is nothing like that until you have a date for your interview”.

 

The respondent described detention conditions in Corinth as very poor: “the conditions are not okay for a human being to live there”. When describing the facility, the respondent mentioned a three-floor “very old building” with regular electricity cuts and with a dysfunctional heating system: “we are really freezing in here”. The respondent explained sharing his cell with 9 other people and described the place and facilities as unclean. He described the detainees were allowed to access “a small yard” six hours a day.

 

The respondent insisted on the unhygienic conditions inside the facility. He explained that 10 detainees were sharing one bathroom. He reported a regular lack of hand soap in the “dirty” bathroom and the absence of clothes and non-food items distribution, including for personal hygiene. Detainees reportedly had to clean the space by themselves as no one from the facility’s staff was in charge of it. They were reportedly provided with cleaning products when they specifically requested for it and after waiting in line outside of the building. In addition, the respondent reported not being able to access running hot water in the facility. He further explained that because of the poor hygienic conditions, the smell emitted was so excruciating that police officers in the center wore masks to enter the facility.

 

The respondent reported being able to make some online purchases, and explained that every purchase shipped to the facility was meticulously examined by the camp management before being allowed in the facility. He also reported on the visit of a market in the facility.

 

The respondent described the food, provided in “closed boxes”, as inedible. He reported that no doctor was working in Corinth and added that he was not able to consult any medical staff while in the facility. He described the possibility to “ask for help” and be taken to the hospital “if you are really sick”. The respondent explained being taken to the hospital but no interpretation was reportedly provided to him there: “they don't care about my health or my needs”.

 

While describing the living conditions, the respondent stated that he “never heard of a country where asylum seekers are put in such a place like this”. Finally, the respondent added that asylum seekers do not deserve to “be put in a jail or in a facility with such bad living conditions” and asked for better living conditions “not because we are asylum seekers but human.”