Introduction. Between 13th August 2025 and 12th December 2025, four months out of my life, I was incarcerated by the Greek state in three separate facilities: Alikarnassos Prison in Heraklion (5 weeks),  Agia Farm Prison Chania (one week awaiting trial) and the Central Heraklion Police Department, which houses a Detention Centre in the basement of the building (11 weeks) 

The reasons for my detention are covered by my other blog posts: this blog is dedicated to the special people (fellow inmates) that I met during this period.

It is often said that in times of crisis and despair, in this case captivity, that true human nature emerges, where inmates are forced to live together in a closed environment. I was very fortunate and privileged to meet and to be able to help a number of fellow “prisoners”, who have since become friends and colleagues.

Background. In the prison environment, where facilities and individual  treatment are governed by international law, and a prisoner is allocated a cell with two or three others, life was much easier than the inhumane and unacceptable conditions applying to those seeking residency status in the Detention Centre in the basement of the Heraklion Police Department. The Greek authorities use the Heraklion Police Centre Building “Holding Cells” – which are meant to be a temporary detention facility –   for detaining immigration and residency cases (boat people and others looking for a better life in Europe). It was like a United Nations, with travellers from Africa, the Middle East, Nepal, Pakistan and other countries. These detention periods are not temporary periods – they can last for six months and more, and in my opinion far exceed the periods acceptable under International Law and Human Rights guidelines.

My Views on Immigration  Greece is used as a gateway to Europe by many from third world countries (for asylum or economic reasons). Previously, I had been anti-immigration, but having met many of these brave and dedicated young men who risk a great deal in making dangerous journeys at great cost, I have changed my mind. I admire their courage, work ethic and optimism, and would be proud to be associated with them outside of captivity. Any society should be happy to integrate with people of such resolve and personal values. 

My Views On the Greek Law relating to “Domestic Violence” One of the most ridiculous laws to make the Greek statute books. We all appreciate that women were in the past disadvantaged, but for some years now, any woman in Greece can contact the police to report domestic “abuse” and the man accused – rightly or wrongly – is immediately arrested and charged on unsubstantiated and “hearsay” evidence. No proof is required. There must have been at least 20 people charged with this “offence” in the time that I was detained at the Heraklion Police Centre – more than those awaiting trial for drug offences (which was the second largest category of crime).  I discussed  this with Greeks and others who had suffered this injustice, and we came to the conclusion that Greece is effectively destroying its own social structure. 

Special People I have listed all the people that were important to me in the order that I met them. English was our language of communication – mainly because  the alternatives were Greek (basic knowledge) and Arabic (no knowledge). In the Detention Centre, i was by far the oldest person, and in some cases I was able to help financially and offer advice to those younger than myself. I have included the surname where possible…

1. Theodorakis Kakouris – Alikarnassos  Shared the same cell with me – No. 65  (along with a Pakistani called Iqbal who was serving a life sentence and was the prison electrician). From Athens, married and in his early 50s. Theo spoke excellent English and had travelled a good deal, with many interesting experiences. We spent many hours discussing a wide variety of issues, including esoteric matters, the Masons and Formula 1 (Ferrari of course…). I do not know whether he has been released yet, but I hope he keeps in touch.
2. David  Sieme – Alikarnassos There were only two people from the UK in this prison, and he was the other one. In his sixties, and like me, he had come to Crete to retire. He had a home in the South of Crete – and a dog – and he was still paying rent. His cell was next to mine, M3, and he had been in the prison for six months when I left. Badly beaten up by police officers when he was arrested, he nearly died on the operating table in Heraklion General Hospital – the subject of an appalling miscarriage of  Greek justice which I will be reporting on in another blog. He is almost certainly still there…
3. Yusuf the Turk – Alikarnassos. Yusuf spoke some English, and was serving a long sentence which I understood to be politically motivated. A former special services operative in Turkey and a bodyguard, he had gone into the marine business near Bodrum, but was arrested in Greek waters for some reason which was not entirely clear to me. An interesting character, about 60 years old.
4. Chris “X” – Chania. Chris is from Sweden and in his 30s. Very tall with wild piercing eyes, he had been in prison for 16 months without a formal charge. He had come to Crete for a few months of work wiith a local construction company as part of his work experience. Another subject of a gross miscarriage of Greek justice, he had a court case coming up, and we discussed at length how he should proceed with his defence/evidence. I hope he was released – a good person who could not understand why he was ever sent to prison.
5. Mohammed “X” – Heraklion Detention .  From Cairo, Egypt, and wanted to get to Italy. About 30, tall and a natural comedian, he had the respect of many of the “inmates” and helped to keep order. He spoke very little English, and had no money, but we got on well and I helped him out financially. He was set free before I left, and I hope he made it to Italy.
6. Dominic Andre Langer – Heraklion Detention .  A truly fascinating individual, Dominic was in his mid 40s, with a father from Switzerland and a mother from Colombia. A modern “hippy”, with previous prison sentences in Spain for reasons that were not entirely divulged, he had decided to come to Crete from Switzerland for a sabbatical on the beach for a few months, but had been arrested after losing his id and passport. His English was ok, and we had long and interesting talks about many esoteric subjects. I helped him financially and discussed his future plans – he was deported to Switzerland before I was released, and I hope he keeps in touch.
7. George X – Heraklion Detention. George was a Greek truck driver from Heraklion in his 40s and was arrested when a jealous ex-partner made unsubstantiated allegations of domestic violence. He spoke good English, and was terrified of life in prison if he were found guilty, and so I gave him some advice. He was so insecure that he asked if I could move my bed and sleep next to him, which I agreed to do. He was given a short sentence in one of the Athens prisons, having been let down by his lawyer – a common occurrence in Greece. 
8. Ripesh D. Guru – Heraklion Detention. About 25 years old and from Nepal, Ripesh is a charming individual who speaks excellent English. He told me I reminded him of his grandfather, and I said I would be proud to consider him an honorary grandson. He arranged for me to move to his cell (A5) which made life more comfortable for me. We had hours of interesting conversations, about his reasons for leaving Nepal, his plans for the future and about his homeland. He is now in Barcelona, Spain having been released some weeks before me, and we are in touch!
9. Sunziv Moktan – Heraklion Detention. About 30 years old and also from Nepal, he and Ripesh were like brothers. An extremely nice and more serious individual, with a sister working nearby, which meant that he could organise his imprisonment a little better by asking her for “supplies”. He was released at the same time as Ripesh, and is now happily in France. We are in touch!
10. Alhaji Sununu Conteh – Heraklion Detention About 30 years old and married, Alhaji had made the perilous journey from Sierra Leone with his wife – who was kept in a separate holding cell in the same detention centre. I admired his intelligence and calmness, and had several converstaions with him about the possibility of starting a PV solar business in Freetown, Sierra Leone. When he was released some weeks before me, in typical Greek style, his wife was kept in detention for another day – which was totally unnecessary. They went to Athens to find work in Greece, and I hope he remains in touch.
11. Akon – Heraklion Detention – My apologies to Akon for not having full details of his name. Also from Sierra Leone, he was like a brother to Alhaji, about the same age and they had shared similar experiences. Outwardly more extrovert, he was a charming character with spiky hair. Prior to my arrival, he and Alajhi, Ripesh and Sunziv had invested in a pack of cards, which became a lifesaver for me. I have them to this day, and remember the hours spent playing various games – there was no other “entertainment”. Akon was released at the same time as Alhaji, and I believe also went to the Athens “Camp” to find work.
12. Mohamed Al-Kurdi – Heraklion Detention Only 20 years old, Mohamed has had an eventful life: originally from Syria, he escaped the war there with his mother and two brothers at age 15, and lived in Turkey with relatives. If that was not enough danger, his town in Turkey was then the epicentre of the mega earthquake of 2023, and he was responsible for his family’s survival and safety after their home had been completely demolished. He speaks English extremely well – he said he learnt from watching movies – and having decided to leave Turkey in search of a better life in Germany, he went on the hazardous boat crossing to the Greek island of Kos, from where he travelled to Athens. Unfortunately for him, his journey ended at Heraklion airport where his “papers” failed inspection. He is highly  intelligent,  and he became my second “honorary grandson”. Apart from wide ranging discussions on Middle Eastern politics, and religion, we talked about life in general, and my experiences were helpful to him.  Unfortunately for Mohamed (or fortunately as it turned out), he developed a very nasty and painful skin infection, which eventually led to his hospitalisation and then early release – some weeks before my release date. I am glad to say that within a few weeks he had managed to get to Germany, and we are now in regular contact.
13. Ismael – Heraklion Detention In his very early  20s, Ismael is from Guinea and speaks good English. Always cheerful, and positive he was one of my original “cellmates” in cell A1, which became the Africa Cell. He and I were two of the longest serving “detainees” and he was still there when I left on 12th December – but I hope he now has his freedom.
14. O’Shoum – Heraklion Detention – Shoum was 22, and had left Egypt to find work in Greece. A very nice individual, he had come to our Cell to avoid some of the more unpleasant Egyptians who had taken over Cell A2. When Mohamed Al-Kurdi was released, he took over my “protection” duty in the adjacent bed.  His English was not great but we could communicate in basic Greek: he taught me a new card game which definitely helped to pass the time. He was financially OK and kept in regular touch with his family via payphone. He also had a medical problem, which was very painful, and had meant a visit to Heraklion main hospital (accompanied of course by a police escort, and in handcuffs) but this led to his early release the day before mine. Unfortunately, the release was so sudden that I could not confirm his full name and contact details, but I think he was “deported” back to Egypt, and I hope he is now OK
15. Zai – Heraklion Detention. Zai (not his full name) was the one detainee I felt most sorry for. Totally unsuited to imprisonment, he had lived in Crete for some years, had regular work and was paying rent, and supporting his wife and children back in Afghanistan. When he arrived in our Cell, he had no money, and was involved in a fight with a particularly unpleasant Pakistani within a couple of days of arriving. About 30 years old and a very honest and likeable character, he soon learnt that “friends” outside – who owed him money – were not friends. I taught him to play Patience (the card game) and helped support him financially as much as I could. I hope he manages to survive this unpleasant experience and get free again. He was still imprisoned when I left, and unfortunately I did not get his contact details.

Please add any comments, particularly if your name is mentioned here. I would love to hear from you 🙂