Iranians sew their mouths shut to protest demolition of ‘Jungle’ migrant camp in France

Six Iranian migrants have sewed their mouths shut to protest the mass evictions and destruction of a large swath of the “Jungle” migrant camp in Calais, northern France, in a desperate bid to bring attention to their plight.

The unusual protest Wednesday came on the third day of an operation to dismantle the makeshift camp on the edge of Calais. Most of the several thousand living there hope to sneak across the English Channel to Britain.

Some camp dwellers have stood on roofs to try to save their huts, others set them afire.

The Iranians held a sign asking for a UN representative to visit the camp.

Clare Moseley of the Care4Calais British volunteer group said the protest was “a cry for help because they don’t know what else to do.”

A court ruled last month that the destruction of the large southern sector of the camp is legal but common spaces like houses of worship must be spared.