Migrants detained in Hungary stage massive hunger strike in a bid to be released
MIGRANTS have gone on hunger strike at a detention centre in Hungary, demanding that they be allowed to leave, the country's immigration authority said.
At least 94 out of 102 migrants in the Bekescsaba camp on the Romanian border are refusing to eat
At least 94 out of 102 migrants in the Bekescsaba camp on the Romanian border are refusing to eat.
A spokesperson for the Immigration and Citizenship Bureau said: “Most of the hunger strikers are under Dublin proceedings as they unlawfully left the country of first entry into the European Union.”
"The hunger strikers signalled their demands in writing, primarily complaining about being detained and asked to be allowed to leave.
"They complained about being fingerprinted as they have no intention to stay in Hungary."
An online plea for help by "Zanyar Faraj", claiming to be a spokesperson for the migrants in Bekescsaba, called for better conditions there. It said many inmates were sick and depressed.
Marta Pardavi, co-chair of asylum rights group Hungarian Helsinki Committee, said: "Our lawyers went on a human rights monitoring mission to the Bekescsaba detention camp a month ago.
The refugees are demanding they be allowed to leave
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal opponent of the wave of migration
"Most [migrants come from circumstances that makes it likely they suffer from psychological trauma. As far as we know the situation in the camp is calm for now."
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal opponent of the wave of migration into Europe, which he says threatens the socioeconomic makeup of the continent, and his government is building fences to keep migrants out.