Clashes Between Refugees and Macedonian Border Police Have Ceased

After several hours of tension and clashes between refugees and the Macedonian border police at the border of this country with Greece, the Associated Press reported that calm has been restored among the refugees on the Greek side of the border. According to the report, since Saturday evening, December 7, clashes have subsided between Iranian, Pakistani, Moroccan, and other nationalities of refugees on the Greek side and the Macedonian border police on the other side. Hours earlier, dozens of refugees engaged in clashes with the Macedonian police by throwing stones and sticks, and the Macedonian police responded by firing tear gas at them. The clashes began after a Moroccan refugee, who intended to enter Macedonia, was severely burned after coming into contact with an electric cable. Other refugees chanted various slogans, including 'Allahu Akbar,' in support of him. The Macedonian Interior Minister stated that 18 police officers were injured during the clashes, with two of them hospitalized. However, these protests and clashes have not yet led Macedonia to reconsider its decision to close its borders to some refugees. Balkan countries, including Macedonia, have recently announced that they will only allow refugees from countries facing civil war to pass through their borders to Western Europe. This decision led some Iranians seeking to cross the Greece-Macedonia border to sew their lips shut in protest. Macedonia has also begun installing a fence at its border with Greece.