Amnesty International criticises Hungarian government for 2017 human rights record

Hungary’s government once again “cannot be proud” of its human rights record, according to human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) annual report for 2017 released on Thursday morning.

Hungary’s “performance” in preserving human rights has in certain areas deteriorated “even compared to 2016”, AI Hungary head Júlia Iván told a press conference on Thursday.

The report found that the particularly problematic areas are “severe breaches of law against asylum-seekers and migrants, the higher education law harming academic freedom and the persecution and restriction of NGOs.”

In the report, AI wrote: “Hungary reached a new low by passing legislation allowing pushbacks of all people found in an irregular situation in the country and by introducing the automatic detention of asylum-seekers, in blatant breach of EU law.”

Source: MTI