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Gallery|Humanitarian Crises

Refugees sew lips together in border protest

A group of Moroccans, Iranians and Pakistanis left stranded at the Greece-Macedonia border by a change in policy.

Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
A refugee stitches the lips of a fellow refugee from Iran in an act of protest against restrictions imposed by Balkan countries [Georgi Licovski/EPA]
Published On 24 Nov 201524 Nov 2015
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Refugees stranded at the Greece-Macedonia border have stripped down and sewn their lips together to protest against the restrictions placed on their movement.

A group of Moroccans, Iranians and Pakistanis, stranded by a policy employed by Balkan states to filter the flow of people passing through the region, blocked rail traffic and demanded passage to western Europe on Monday.

Last week, Slovenia, a member of Europe’s Schengen area of passport-free travel, declared it would only grant passage to those fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and that all others deemed “economic migrants” would be sent back.

That left leaving a growing number of refugees stranded in tents and around camp fires with winter approaching.

Rights groups have questioned the policy, warning asylum should be granted on merit, not on the basis of nationality.

Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
Conditions for hundreds of refugees stuck on Balkan borders has worsened as temperatures drop and a first smattering of snow falls. [Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters]
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Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
Balkan countries have begun filtering the flow of refugees to Europe, granting passage to those fleeing conflict in the Middle East and Afghanistan but turning back the rest.[Yannis Behrakis/Reuters]
Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
Stranded Iranians protest by sitting on rail tracks in front of Macedonian riot police near the Greek village of Idomeni. [Yannis Behrakis/ Reuters]
Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
A man cries as others plead with police to allow them to continue their journy. [Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters]
Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
An Iranian protests with sewn lips as he sits on rail trucks at the border between Greece and Macedonia. [Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters]
Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
Refugees, barred from crossing the border, stand in front of police cordon during a protest near Gevegelija. [Georgi Licovski/EPA]
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Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
A woman tries to protect her daughter as refugees scuffle with the Greek police. [Giannis Papanikos/Reuters]
Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
A group of Bangladeshis protest with slogans on their chests in red paint. [Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters]
Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
Slovenia, a member of Europe's Schengen zone of passport-free travel, declared it would only grant passage to those fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, and not economic migrants. [Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters]
Refugees sew lips in Greece-Macedonia border protest
Stranded Pakistanis keep warm at a field near the Greek village of Idomeni. [Yannis Behrakis/Reuters]


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