Ombudsman’s office condemns discrimination of Roma in airport checks

Budapest (MTI) – The check-in process for international flights must not involve discrimination, nor must airport personnel humiliate passengers or harm their dignity, the office of the ombudsman for fundamental rights said in a statement on Friday.

The office has received several complaints after Roma individuals and families were denied boarding at Budapest’s international airport despite their presenting valid travel documents and tickets to Canada. According to the complainants, “persons of unknown authority” interviewed them at the check-in points and banned them from boarding their flights.

Deputy ombudsman for national minorities Erzsébet Szalay Sándor conducted an investigation and established that the airport checks did not meet the requirements of a fair procedure, violated citizens’ right to legal remedy, as well as the dignity of people exercising their right of free movement.

“Preliminary checks at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc Airport must not be discriminative for any passenger leaving for Canada,” the statement quoted the official as saying. Procedures must be conducted under a written protocol and in the same manner each time, while passengers should be advised on the purpose of the check in advance, the document added.

Source: MTI