A group of UN human rights experts on Tuesday expressed concern [press release] regarding Hungary’s new immigration measures.

Hungary adopted legislation in July that further restricts asylum claims and criminalizes “supporting and facilitating illegal immigration.”

The experts have observed that, as a result of the legislation, “[t]hreats against human rights defenders in Hungary are now regular and widespread, evidently encouraged by the Government.”

The experts called on Hungary to “refrain from engaging in practices that are threatening fundamental civic freedoms, in particular, the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, as well as the principle of non-refoulement and the ban on incitement to hatred and discrimination,” and encourages European institutions to continue applying pressure on the Hungarian government.

In July, the European Commission announced [JURIST report] that it would refer Hungary to the European Court of Justice [official website] for violations of EU treaties regarding protections for asylum seekers.