Calais: Iranians sew mouths shut in protest

A DOZEN Iranian migrants who have sewn their mouths shut in protest at the destruction of the squalid Jungle in Calais continued their vigil for a third day yesterday as demolition work was stepped up.

The desperate men positioned themselves in front of riot police protecting workers dismantling shacks as Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said he felt ‘immense compassion and sadness’ for the men.

Meanwhile, many defiant migrants continued life as normal, praying as the dismantling work continued (pictured above). By yesterday morning, a quarter of the southern half of the camp which has been ear-marked for destruction was cleared – around five acres.

Officials have said clearing the section would last at least a month. Work is to halt for the weekend and resume on Monday. But migrants and activists continue to try to undermine the clearance efforts by blocking roads and moving cabins away from the destruction zone.

Blazes continued to appear throughout the day, although the atmosphere is one of increas- ing resignation. There has been no announcement on the fate of the rest of the camp, but rumours are rife that the bulldozers will soon roll into previously untouched areas.

‘The idea is not to rush things. There are some zones that are easier than others. We must act very pragmatically, very humanely,’ said local official Vincent Berton.

Council workers have been trying to convince migrants to move to official centres around France, or heated shipping containers alongside the Jungle.