Following a decision by a Hungarian appeal court to order a retrial in the case against Ahmed H, a Syrian man sentenced to 10 years in prison for committing an “act of terror” during clashes with border guards at the Serbia-Hungary border, Todor Gardos, Amnesty International’s Hungary researcher said:
“This is an important step on the path to justice for a man whose absurd conviction was based on the blatant misuse of terrorism provisions."
Todor Gardos, Amnesty International’s Hungary researcher
“This is an important step on the path to justice for a man whose absurd conviction was based on the blatant misuse of terrorism provisions.
“Today’s decision is a clear indication that evidence against Ahmed H was not adequately examined by the first instance court and suggests that he may have been wrongfully convicted.
“Throwing a few stones cannot seriously be equated to an act of terrorism and the retrial will provide an opportunity to ensure counter-terrorism laws stop being misused in such a way.
“There is no reason for Ahmed H to remain in pre-trial detention. He should be released and tried fairly without delay.”