“Imagine the weight of those iron gates closing behind you.” That’s the reality for thousands within Korydallos Prison. Today we stand before Greece’s largest jail. It’s more than walls and bars. It’s a complex tapestry of confinement, trials, and even daring escapes.
Korydallos Prison is located in Korydallos, Piraeus. This is the country’s main maximum-security prison. Both men and women are housed here. Overcrowding has been a persistent issue.
This prison has housed some of Greece’s most notorious figures. Members of the Revolutionary Organization 17 November were detained here. Also, members of Revolutionary Struggle and Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei. In 1975, Korydallos Prison served as the venue for the Greek junta trials. A special court exists in its basement. Nikolaos Dertilis, the last junta member in jail, died here in 2013. He was 94.
Conditions inside Korydallos Prison have often been criticized. Amnesty International and other human rights groups have voiced concerns. Overcrowding and inhumane treatment have been cited. A 2007 report highlighted unsanitary conditions. It also mentioned shortages of medical staff. The Hellenic Parliament pledged improvements.
In November 1995, a massive riot erupted. Inmates seized control for several days. Earlier, in 1990, inmates held the complex for 28 days. These actions were often linked to prison conditions and calls for criminal justice reform.
Korydallos Prison has also been the target of politically motivated attacks. In 2010, a bomb exploded outside, injuring a passerby. In 2013, a bomb was placed under the car of the prison governor. The Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei claimed responsibility.
In 2008, political inmates protested the transfer of an anarchist prisoner. Among them was N17 prisoner Dimitris Koufontinas. In 2021, Koufontinas went on a 66-day hunger strike. He demanded to be moved to Korydallos Prison.
Vasilis Paleokostas, known as the “Greek Robin Hood”, famously escaped twice by helicopter. This happened in 2006 and 2009. In 2014, Christodoulos Xiros, serving multiple life sentences, escaped while on temporary leave. Nikolaos Maziotis, leader of Revolutionary Struggle, disappeared during his trial in 2014.
Even human rights activists have experienced Korydallos’s confines. Sarah Mardini was held here for 106 days during pre-trial detention in 2018.
Korydallos Prison is more than just a building. It’s a microcosm of Greek society. It reflects its struggles with justice, security, and human rights. As we leave this place, remember the stories within these walls. They are stories of confinement, resistance, and the enduring human spirit.