Kicking is one of the most frequently reported forms of physical violence in pushback scenarios. People describe being kicked by border authorities or police officers, often while they are restrained, on the ground, or attempting to comply with orders. The kicks are commonly targeted at vulnerable parts of the body, such as the ribs, abdomen, or head, leading to serious injuries like fractures, internal bleeding, or concussions.
Image from testimony “Kicked by Croatian Police every time we crossed the border”, 21/12/2023.
Under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT), all forms of torture or inhuman treatment are prohibited. Kicking, especially when targeted at vulnerable areas or inflicted on restrained individuals, falls under this definition.
They drove and stopped in a blind alley, brought him down and then 3 of out of the 4 officers started kicking him. He reports: “They gave me the beating of my life, I have never had this kind of torture. I was treated like an animal. I was beaten so hard, I was tortured, they beated me like a snake, I was just trying to protect my face because I didn’t want my face to be smashed. Why did they do this to me? I am not a criminal”.
-Respondent in Šid, 18/07/2024
