Amnesty International has raised significant concerns regarding the living conditions and treatment of refugees at the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC) in Greece. In a report released on Tuesday, the human rights organization highlighted that the arbitrary detention practices at the centre are in violation of European standards and international law.
The report is based on research conducted between December 2023 and July 2024 and describes the conditions at the EU-funded facility located on the Greek island of Samos. According to Amnesty, the conditions at the centre are marked by severe overcrowding, inadequate hygiene and sanitation due to water shortages, the lack of proper medical care, and the absence of special reception conditions for vulnerable asylum seekers, including children.
Amnesty International’s Senior Director, Deprose Muchen, characterized the facility’s conditions as a “dystopian nightmare” and criticized the Greek authorities for creating an environment that is ripe for abuse. The research conducted by the organization pointed to multiple human rights violations, including breaches of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights (ECHR) and the European Union Migration and Asylum Pact.
The NGO expressed particular concern about Greece’s use of legislation that permits the detention of residents for up to 25 days for administrative procedures. An initial five-day restriction is imposed on all new residents, which Amnesty argues is applied overwhelmingly and without individualized assessment. This practice, according to the agency, contravenes international standards and raises significant issues around non-discrimination and the legality of migration detention.
At the conclusion of its report, Amnesty International called on Greek authorities to comply with European laws and improve the conditions at the Samos centre. The organization stressed the importance of EU oversight, given that the facility is EU-funded, and urged the European Commission to advance its infringement proceedings against Greece for failing to meet European migration and asylum standards.
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