Refugees Sew Mouths Shut In Protest At European Border Crossing

A group of refugees stuck at the border between Greece and Macedonia for the past four days have sewn their mouths shut in protest.

At least six Iranians have sewed their lips together, hoping to persuade Macedonia to open the border and let them through on their way to western Europe.

They are joined by hundreds of other halted migrants, most hailing from Iran, Morocco, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have been barred entry to Europe as a result of countries tightening their borders following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris.

Last week, Slovenia announced it would only admit immigrants fleeing the chaos in Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan. Other European countries quickly followed suit, leading to crowds of stranded refugees at border crossings.

One of the hunger strikers, a 34-year-old Iranian man named Hamid, told Reuters he's an electrical engineer and wants to immigrate "to any free country in the world."

"I cannot go back," he said. "I will be hanged."

The Associated Press reports 2,900 immigrants were admitted to Macedonia between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday. More than 6,000 people passed through the previous day.

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