Amnesty International: Hungary strongest opponent to pan-European migration solution

London, February 24 (MTI) – Hungary showed the strongest opposition to a pan-European solution to the migrant crisis out of all European countries last year, and chose not to participate in collective efforts to overcome the crisis, Amnesty International said in its human rights report for 2015/16 released on Wednesday.

The report said that when the number of illegal entrants into the country started to increase significantly, Hungary “decided to seal itself off”. The report also discussed the government’s criminalisation of illegal migration and the impacts of its decision to erect fences on its southern borders to stem the inflow of migrants.

AI said that by the end of 2015 more than 900 people were charged with entering Hungary illegally, and subjected to expulsion proceedings.

Concerning freedom of association, AI said civil groups critical of the government’s policies were harassed by authorities and faced threats of losing their registration, AI said. The human rights watchdog noted that four civil groups responsible for managing and distributing the Norway Grants faced a criminal investigation and were threatened with suspension of their tax registration number.