Stranded migrants in clashes at Greece-Macedonia border

About six migrants earlier sewed their lips together in protest.

Nationals of countries other than Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are being stopped, leading to protests by about 200 people, mainly Iranians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis, with about 60 now on hunger strike, Edwards said.

The portraits emerging are a poignant reflection of the refugees’ current status, where they’re being reduced to drastic measures of silence to have their voices heard.

Hundreds of migrants stranded at Greece’s northern border clashed with police Thursday while trying to force their way into Macedonia.

Austria is bracing for a total of about 95,000 refugees this year, just over 1 percent of its population.

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

The Iranian official said a “large number” of Iranian asylum-seekers have chosen to return home due to “tough and appalling” conditions in the European refugee camps. About 150 people have returned voluntarily over the past 48 hours to Athens where they are being advised that they can seek asylum.

Only 148 refugees have been relocated from Italy and Greece to other European Union countries under a plan for transferring 160,000 agreed by European Union leaders in September, Edwards said. They have staged daily demonstrations at the border, and have pitched their tents on a railway line, halting rail services between the Greek port of Thessaloniki and the Macedonian capital Skopje.

Between Sunday and Monday, about 2,900 people crossed into Macedonia – down from 6,000 the previous day.

The rejection by Slovenia, Macedonia, Croatia and Serbia has led to a build up of refugee numbers at the Balken borders including some from priority borders but without papers.

The demonstrations have been ongoing for at least four days and were organized in response to a recent decision by some Balkan countries to block refugees according to nationality in the wake of the November 13th Paris attacks.