In a report published on Thursday, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) recognises the significant challenges posed by the influx of migrants to the Greek authorities, deplores the lack of European coordination, but urges Greece to change its approach.
Based on an ad hoc visit which took place from 13 to 17 March 2020, this report denounces the detention conditions of migrants in the Evros region and on the island of Samos. Overcrowding, poorly lit and poorly ventilated cells with bars, unsanitary toilets and washrooms, lack of hygiene and cleaning equipment, inadequate food and lack of access to outdoor exercise can be described as “inhuman and degrading treatment”, the CPT criticises, and also reiterates its call for Greece to put an end to the detention of children, whether accompanied or not, in police establishments.
The lack of clear information to migrants about their administrative status is also denounced, as are allegations of ill-treatment (slapping, kicking and use of truncheons) inflicted on migrants by police forces during arrests or transfers to places of detention.
The report also highlights that the CPT has received “consistent and credible allegations of migrants being pushed back across the Evros River border to Turkey”, allegations which Greece has denied in its response to the CPT.
Another point: “the CPT is concerned about acts by the Greek Coast Guard to prevent boats carrying migrants from reaching any Greek island and it questions the role and engagement of FRONTEX in such operations”.
See the report: https://bit.ly/2KiJagx (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)