Hungary has appealed against the March decision of the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights adopted in connection with two Bangladeshi asylum-seekers because the Government takes the view that this kind of interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights may induce „business migration”, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Justice Ministry said at his press conference held on 14 June 2017 in Budapest.

Pál Völner reiterated that the European Court of Human Rights condemned Hungary in March in the case of two Bangladeshi asylum-seekers, accusing Hungary of not having observed the European Convention on Human Rights.

He added: the court awarded 10 thousand euros in damages to each of the two Bangladeshis, and 3 million forints in legal costs to the Helsinki Committee which represented them.

Photo: Endre Véssey

Mr Völner pointed out that the fact that one of the judges of the court is one of the founders of the CEU, who maintains close relations with the Helsinki Committee, may also give rise to issues of conflict of interest.

The Hungarian Government submitted its appeal to the Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg court on Wednesday, he added.

The State Secretary stressed: Hungary contested the judgement because if this kind of interpretation prevails, it may eventually topple the Schengen regime, may induce „business migration” and may generate a „human rights business”.

Photo: Endre Véssey

In his view, this could create a migration vacuum in Europe, and all the economic migrants from all over the world could set out for Europe.

The Government is therefore asking the court to also look into the global effects of the case as tens of millions of immigrants may set out in the wake of a decision such as this, Mr Völner said.