borders
A wire fence next to the village of Zdala, Croatia. Zdala is a village beside the border to Hungary. Antonio Bronic/ Reuters

He has built large fences at the southern border with Serbia to keep out migrants. Now Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban says the move is to defend the constitution.

To be clear and unequivocal, I can say that Islamisation is constitutionally banned in Hungary.
- Viktor Oban, Hungary Prime Minister

Speaking in Parliament on 25 April, the prime minister insists that the country's constitution explicitly forbids Islamisation. He said the constitution's primary aim is to secure the existence of Hungarian norms and language.

This effectively means that any attempts to fundamentally transform the country towards the Islamic path are blatantly unconstitutional, The Associated Press reports. He said that the government therefore has to step in and prevent any activity that pushes Hungary closer to an Islamic society.

Viktor Oban with wife
Hungarian Prime minister Viktor Oban and his wife. Reuters

He said that part of this "proactive action" by the government involves opposing mass migration. "To be clear and unequivocal, I can say that Islamisation is constitutionally banned in Hungary."

We have the right to choose whom we want and don't want to live with.
- Viktor Oban, Hungary PM

He continued: Orban, according to the AP wants Hungary to be free of any unauthorised migrants.

For migrants who do manage to get through the fence and into Hungary, they face detention. In the first two weeks of March, Hungary arrested at least 1,428 migrants. Various human rights organisations have complained that the process is a violation of the constitution and basic rights.

Hungary has filed a lawsuit against the European Union, seeking to be declared exempt from migrant resettlement plans. In addition, a national referendum is planned over EU quotas, aimed at garnering support for its anti-immigration policy.