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Hungary plans anti-migration campaign in transit countries

Published:Thursday | August 13, 2015 | 11:25 AM
AP
Refugees from Afghanistan rest after crossing the Hungarian-Serbian border near Asotthalom, Hungary on Tuesday, August 11. A flow of migrants continue to hit Hungary’s southern borders while Hungarian soldiers have begun building a 4-metre-high (13-foot-high) fence on the border with Serbia meant to stop the rising flow of migrants trying to enter the European Union.

BUDAPEST, (AP):

Hungary's government said it plans to extend its anti-migration campaign to countries such as Greece, Macedonia and Serbia, transit points used by the more than 120,000 migrants who have entered Hungary this year.

Minister Janos Lazar said yesterday that the government wants to "convince migrants that it is not worth entering Hungary" because it is building a fence on the border with Serbia, and has imposed tougher migration rules since August 1. Most of the migrants who enter Hungary are on their way to richer EU destinations such as Germany or Sweden.

A billboard campaign with slogans like, "If you come to Hungary you must respect our culture", and a questionnaire sent to voters linking migration and terrorism, have been criticised by rights groups as xenophobic.