At least 112 foreign nationals died in Greek detention since 2000, study finds
At least 112 foreign nationals have died in police stations and immigration detention facilities across Greece since 2000, while authorities have failed to maintain reliable public records of the deaths, according to research published by the University of Oxford on Tuesday.
The study, based on police data obtained through Freedom of Information requests, reports from international monitoring organisations, media archives and interviews with formerly detained individuals, documents deaths in detention facilities across the country.
Since Greece opened its first pre-removal detention centre in 2012, at least 27 deaths have been recorded in such facilities.
Researchers said Greek authorities do not routinely publish statistics identifying foreign nationals who die in custody, the locations of their deaths or the circumstances surrounding them.
Most victims were men under 40
The research found that 82 of the documented victims were men, while four were women. The gender of 26 individuals was not recorded.
Among the 70 people whose ages were known, the median age was 33.5, with 45 victims under the age of 40.
Albanian and Pakistani nationals represented the largest identified groups, with 13 deaths each. The nationality of another 32 individuals remained unspecified.
Suicide was the most frequently recorded cause of death in official police or government sources, accounting for 44 cases. Pathological causes were recorded in 20 cases, while no cause of death was reported in 36 cases.
Concerns over medical neglect and physical abuse
The study also highlighted allegations of medical neglect and physical abuse in some detention-related deaths, citing information from non-governmental sources.
Researchers pointed to significant gaps in the documentation of deaths in state custody, noting that basic information about victims and the circumstances of their deaths often remains unavailable despite their detention under state authority.
Media coverage was also found to be limited, frequently consisting of brief reports based on police statements, with little information about the individuals involved or the events leading to their deaths.
Accounts from relatives, friends and fellow detainees were often absent from public reporting.
Researchers call attention to accountability gaps
The findings raise questions about transparency and accountability in Greece's immigration and detention system.
The research also examines links between restrictive immigration policies, violence against racialised communities and repressive policing practices in Greek society.
Researchers argue that the lack of comprehensive public records makes it difficult to establish the full circumstances surrounding deaths in detention and assess the treatment of people held in state custody.
Source:AA
