Six Iranian Refugees Sew Their Lips in Protest Against French Police

Six Iranian refugees sewed their lips on Wednesday, March 3, in protest against the extensive evacuation and destruction of the migrant camp in northern France, highlighting their dire situation. According to the Associated Press, this unusual form of protest occurred on the third day of the French police operation to collect belongings and tents of refugees in the Calais camp. Several thousand residents of this camp are seeking ways to secretly enter Britain via the English Channel. Some residents attempted to prevent the destruction of their shelters by climbing onto their roofs, while others set their accommodations on fire. The protesting Iranians held a placard requesting a visit from a UN representative to the camp. Clare Mosley, from the British volunteer group 'care4calais', stated that this protest was a 'plea for help as the refugees do not know what to do next.' A French court ruled last month that the destruction of the southern part of this large camp was legal, but public places such as places of worship must remain. An official said on Wednesday that the demolition operation would last a month. According to official estimates, between 800 to 1,000 people live in the area being demolished, but humanitarian groups estimate this number to be around 3,000. The French government has offered refugees the option to stay in the remaining containers or be sent to temporary centers from where they can apply for asylum in France. In this context, the number of migrants entering Europe has reached 110,000 since the beginning of the new Gregorian year. The UN Secretary-General stated that the number of displaced persons worldwide is unprecedented since the Korean War.