Government: Convicted Syrian man, Ahmed H to remain in detention for time being

Ahmed H, the Syrian migrant who spent 40 months in prison for inciting a riot in 2015 on the Hungary-Serbia border, will remain in detention until Hungary can reach an agreement with Cyprus, where he had lived before his arrest, on sending him back there, the government spokesman said on Friday.

“The Hungarian government will not allow a terrorist to be set free in Hungary’s territory,” István Hollik told a press conference, arguing that Ahmed H was a threat to the safety of Hungarians.

The Syrian migrant was sentenced to five years in prison in a repeat procedure last year for illegally crossing the border as part of a rioting crowd and throwing objects at police, which the court regarded as complicity in terrorist activities.

Hollik noted that he will be released from prison on Jan. 19 after serving two-thirds of his term, taking into account time spent in pre-trial detention.

“Given that he poses a threat to the safety of the Hungarian people,” Hollik said, “the decision has been made to expel him from the country.” But under international treaties, he can only be expelled if another country is ready to take him in.