Migrants stranded on the border between Greece and Macedonia protested against not being allowed to carry on with their journey by sewing their lips together.
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The United Nations has condemned the restrictions, saying they are in violation of worldwide law.
About 200 migrants assaulted the barbed wire fence near the Greek border town of Idomeni and clashed with Macedonian police.
The new policy has raised questions from rights groups who are advising that asylum should be granted according to merit and not on nationality alone, according to a report by the Independent.
At least five Iranians powering through a hunger strike near the Greek border village of Idomemi sutured their mouths Monday to protest the Macedonian government’s decision to no longer accept “economic migrants” from Iran, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Increasingly stormy winter weather is making crossings by sea to Europe more risky, and refugees trekking northwards through the Balkans are now exposed to freezing cold and snow. Only those fleeing armed conflict in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq are allowed to cross as they are typically being granted asylum in the EU.
“All people have the right to seek asylum, irrespective of their nationality and to have their individual cases heard. Please help us”, he said.
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“Nonetheless, the environment is significantly worsened for people seeking asylum and that’s a very major concern”, Edwards said. “I have tried to cross at several points, but the police were always there to stop us”, she said. He cited Turkish Coast Guard exercises as another possible reason for the sharp drop in migrants leaving the country for Greece. Only 148 refugees have been relocated to other European Union countries – Finland, Luxembourg and Sweden, Mr Edwards said.
