AYDIN - Expressing that they are living through a situation where the time is uncertain and space is limited, a refugee held in a removal center said: "We are living our worse dissappointment in these lands we came with hope."

 

Foreigners who have an administrative detention decision in Turkey are kept at the Removal Centers (GGM) affiliated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs General Directorate of Immigration Management. According to the data of the institution, there are 26 removal centers with a total capacity of 16.108 people in Turkey. The places built for the accommodation of refugees with the financial support of the European Union (EU) have been turned into removal centers with the approval of the EU. In recent years, removal centers in Aydın, İzmir, Çanakkale and Van have come to the agenda with news of suicide and rights violations. Many demands of people placed in these centers, especially access to justice, are not met. Human rights defenders criticize that allegations of suicide, torture and violations of rights are not investigated and independent audits are not carried out.

 

A refugee detained in Aydın removal center explained the conditions they live in and their daily lives to Mesopotamia Agency (MA). We are publishing what the male refugee whom we can not disclose his identity due to the risk of deportation and security risks, exactly as how he told us.

 

THEY CONFISCATED OUR WATCHES

 

"I came here 20 days ago. I don't know what the time is for breakfast in the morning because they confiscated our watches and phones when we got here. There is not one single watch where we stay. They don't tell us the time when we ask them. We made a request for a wall clock in our ward but they rejected it. I think we wake up around 08.30. They give us five minutes for breakfast so we have to go have breakfast before we can wash our faces. 

 

The kitchen employee takes a photo of the menu meal. He said he takes these photos to send to the head quarters. They don't give us milk even if it is in the menu. They only give us tea during breakfast. Now they give us tea at dinner to because its Ramadan. The guards tell us when we will break our fast, because we don't have any watches. A refugee who speaks arabic recites the azan at the iftar. They wake us up by kicking the doors when its time for pre-dawn meal of suhur. Those who don't fast have to wake up because of this.

 

Our wards are dirty. The sewage is broken so the dirty waters runs into the ward. The smell is unbearable. We are not given sharp objects. We can only shave on saturdays and the guards collect the rezor blades afterwards. Those who smoke have to ask for a lighter from the guards. Having matches or lighters is forbidden. There are power outlets in the ward but they don't have wires inside of it. They don't work. I think they are just on display if someone audits the place. 

 

CHILDREN CAN'T PLAY

 

There are three wards in the removal center. One for men, one for women and one for families. The children are not allowed to play although there is a play ground here. We can not engage in any social activities, listen to music or play a musical instrument. We play ball we buy from the canteen.

 

We communicate with other wards through papers glued to plastic bottles. No one claims the bottle when the guard cathes it. The yard is open until 21.00 at night. Then we go back in and the lights are off at 23.00.

 

A HUGE DISSAPPOINTMENT

 

The conversations we have here are usually about the outside. Most of us have escaped war and poverty and came for a better life. They do not give us an identity card and they keep us here as if we are criminals. We are living our worse dissappointment in these lands we came with hope. Sometimes they try to get us deported and sometimes they are trying to convince us to go back. They say we'll give you money and send you to your country for you to unite with your family. They send those who are persuaded to embassy.

 

There is no legal aid in here. We don't think our petitions demanding a lawyer are processed. Because no lawyer have ever came after those petitions."

 

 

MA / Sevda Aydın