Refugees sew mouths shut in border crossing protest

Europe’s border controls have come under renewed scrutiny since the attacks in Paris on 13 November.

With refugees and migrants expected to continue arriving in Europe via Greece over the winter and into 2016 it is imperative that the situation be managed in such a way as to minimize the risks of new problems being created.

The United Nations has condemned the new restrictions on travel based on nationality. Balkan countries have closed their borders except to people fleeing wars in countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Six Iranian refugees have sewn their mouths shut as part of a protest at the Greece-Macedonia border.

All people have the right the right to seek asylum, irrespective of their nationality and to have their individual cases heard.

Reuters reported that on Friday, 400 people were denied access to a train and halted by Croatian police as they tried to make their way through a field.

Czech President Milos Zeman, known for his critical views of Islam, says Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka is endangering the country by not fully recognizing the danger asylum-seekers are posing. While the country could provide refuge to 2,000 people in its temporary transit centers, an increase in the number could “increase permanent and direct threats and risks for the national security”.

UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards also noted a recent decline in arrivals, but said it’s too early to determine if that amounts to a trend.

Hundreds of Iranian migrants are being prohibited from crossing the Greece-Macedonia border.

“There has been no landing in Italy since the 19th of November”.

A Dutch advisory court says that the government can demand of migrants who have had their asylum applications rejected that they cooperate with efforts to repatriate them in return for basic accommodation in the Netherlands.

Millman also cautioned against jumping to conclusions. “Although we do note a sharp decrease, we’re wondering if it’s going to start ticking up again”, he said.

“You can’t just declare all of the potential asylum seekers from one country “economic migrants” and send them back without knowing what they are running away from. An Iranian can qualify as a political refugee”, Mouzalas told state radio on Monday after visiting the Idomeni border crossing.