Hungary: Syrian man convicted of act of terror for throwing stones in 'absurd decision'

Responding to the conviction of Ahmed H, a Syrian man prosecuted for committing an alleged “act of terror” during clashes with Hungarian police at the Serbia-Hungary border in September 2016, Eda Seyhan, Amnesty International’s Campaigner on Counter-Terrorism in Europe, said:

“Today’s verdict reflects the dangerous confluence of Hungary’s draconian counter-terrorism laws and its merciless crackdown on refugees and migrants.

“Ahmed’s conviction on these charges should be quashed on appeal and he should be released without delay.

“Ahmed H, who was simply trying to help his family flee Syria, has been unjustly demonised both inside and outside the courtroom. None of the evidence against Ahmed constitutes ‘an act of terror’ and his conviction is a blatant misuse of terrorism-related provisions.

“After more than two-and-a-half years behind bars, this absurd decision comes as a devastating blow for Ahmed, his wife and his two young daughters.”

Ahmed H was convicted for “complicity in an act of terror” and “illegal entry as part of a mass riot” and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and expulsion from Hungary for 10 years.