2000 immigrants on Hunger Strike

More than 2,000 immigrants held in detention centers in Greece have been on a hunger strike since April 6 to denounce the intolerable conditions.

According to the United Movement Against Racism and the Fascist Threat (KEERFA), more than 2,000 immigrants held in detention centers in Greece have been on a hunger strike since April 6 to denounce the intolerable conditions.

KEERFA activists said at a press conference on April 8, “The culmination of the poor detention conditions, the mistreatment and tortures migrants have to deal with in reception centers was the three suicide attempts which happened in Amygdaleza center in northern Athens last weekend”.

Two migrants attempted to commit suicide at the Amygdaleza detention camp. One drunk a bottle of shampoo and the other one cut himself with broken glass.

KEERFA coordinator, Petros Constantinou, talked about the inhuman conditions in reception centers, adding that hunger strikes have spread across Greece, while many police departments have turned into places of abuse for immigrants and refugees.

Local immigrant community leaders who also spoke at the press conference called on authorities to give them permission to visit with hunger-striking migrants at the detention centers and to provide them access to doctors and lawyers.