Hungary: Verdict due in trial of man charged with ‘terrorism’ at border crossing

Ahead of the expected verdict in the trial of a Syrian man charged with committing an “act of terror” during clashes with Hungarian border guards at a Serbia-Hungary border crossing last year, an Amnesty International team is in court and available for interviews.

The man, a permanent resident of Cyprus who can only be identified as Ahmed H., could face a life sentence if found guilty. His elderly parents, whom he was helping to escape from Syria to Europe, were convicted previously of unlawful entry and mass rioting, in relation to the same incident at the Röszke border crossing in September 2015.

“Ahmed H. is a man who was merely helping his family flee Syria – his trial on far-fetched ‘terrorism’ charges is a symptom of all that is wrong with Hungary’s appalling treatment of people seeking protection in Europe,” said Kartik Raj, Amnesty International’s regional campaigner.

“The recent ramping up of anti-terror powers in Hungary together with the crackdown on migrants and refugees are a disturbing trend that must be reversed.”