Greece rapped over detention conditions
The Council of Europe?s anti-torture committee on Tuesday issued a statement criticizing Greek authorities for failing to improve conditions in prisons and migrant detention centers despite several recommendations made by council inspectors since 1993.
The statement highlighted ?a persistent lack of action? by authorities and highlighted substandard conditions in several detention centers for migrants and in prisons across the country. The Filakio detention center for migrants near the Turkish border was described as having ?filthy, overcrowded, unhygienic cage-like conditions.?
The committee called on the European Union to help Greece cope with a burgeoning influx of undocumented migrants but said authorities also had to take some initiative. The statement also expressed concern about overcrowding in Greek jails, condemning ?the practice of warehousing prisoners.?
