The Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has once again called on Greece to reform its immigration detention system and halt the practice of pushbacks. This appeal follows an ad hoc visit to Greece from November 21 to December 1, 2023. The CPT’s report, published alongside the Greek authorities’ response, highlights the urgent need to improve conditions in the country’s immigration detention facilities, particularly the newly constructed, EU-funded centers on the Aegean islands, ensuring that foreign nationals are treated with dignity and humanity.
The primary aim of the CPT’s visit was to assess the treatment of foreign nationals detained under immigration laws in various facilities, including pre-removal detention centers, police and border guard stations, and the newly established Closed Controlled Access Centres on the Aegean Islands of Lesvos, Kos, and Samos.
During their inspection, the CPT received numerous credible reports of deliberate physical ill-treatment of detained foreign nationals by police officers. These reports originated from several police stations in Athens and pre-removal detention centers in Amygdaleza, Corinth, and Tavros (Petrou Ralli).
Additionally, the CPT noted that many foreign nationals continue to be held in poor detention conditions. Several police stations, deemed unsuitable for detentions exceeding 24 hours, were highlighted as particularly problematic.
The CPT expressed significant concerns regarding the new EU-funded Closed Controlled Access Centres on the Aegean Islands. At the time of the visit, these centers failed to meet the basic reception and protection needs of asylum seekers. Many individuals were detained well beyond the legal time limits and lacked access to essential legal safeguards, including lawyers and interpreters. The living conditions at the centers, especially those in Kos and Samos, were described as inhuman and degrading.
The excessive security measures and unnecessary barbed wire fencing at these centers were also criticized by the CPT, particularly for their unsuitability in accommodating children and vulnerable individuals.
Moreover, the CPT received numerous credible and consistent reports of informal, often violent, forcible removals of foreign nationals across the Evros river or at sea to Turkey, known as pushbacks. These actions were carried out without regard for the individuals’ circumstances, vulnerabilities, or protection needs, and posed a significant risk of ill-treatment.
In their response, the Greek authorities maintained that the detention conditions of foreign nationals in police stations and pre-removal detention centers adhere to international standards. They also announced plans for large-scale renovations at three detention centers.
The CPT’s report underscores the pressing need for Greece to address these serious issues within its immigration detention system and ensure the humane and dignified treatment of all detained foreign nationals.