UN rights committee calls on Hungary to stifle hate speech by politicians

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has called on Hungary to crack down on hate speech by politicians against minorities, particularly the Roma and Muslims.

In its findings on Hungary’s civil and political rights record, the committee urged Hungary to scrap a law that would empower the police to expel illegal entrants without giving them the opportunity to submit asylum applications. It also urged the government to reject the “Stop Soros” bill which would give the interior minister the power to ban NGOs aiding migrants that are deemed national security risks.

The committee voiced concern over what it saw as “the prevalence of hate crimes and … hate speech in political discourse, the media and on the Internet targeting minorities, notably Roma, Muslim, migrants and refugees, including in the context of government-sponsored campaigns”.

It also voiced concern over Hungary’s practice of placing migrants in transit zones under a law adopted last year, saying that it was in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The body said asylum applications should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and that the government should not restrict asylum seekers’ right to free movement.