ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT IN HUNGARY

JANUARY 2020

ACTION AND PROTECTION LEAGUE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Excecutive Summary 3 Action and Protection League 4 About the Report 5 Methodology 7

2 Antisemitic Hate Incidents – January 2020 10 Hate Speech 10 Discrimination 11 Further Hate Incidents 12 Community News and Responses 14 Official and Civil Responses 19

News and Opinions About Antisemitism in Hungary 20 Other News 21 Action and Protection Foundation Legal Actions 24 The Month's Chronicle 25 Contact and Support 27 Refererences 27 Contributors and Publisher Information 28 EXCECUTIVE SUMMARY

hate crimes is that the former possesses an antisemitic motive. Due to differences in legislation and application of legislation in various countries, there are different interpretations of which antisemitic inci- dents that are violations of criminal law. In addition are some hate-motivated acts, albeit troubling for Jews, not considered criminal if they, e.g., are considered be- longing to the realm of freedom of speech. The APL considers it essential to record both types of hate incidents in order to gain a general overview and to make it pos- sible to analyse changes over time. In order to have the most extensive scope 3 A significant part of combating antisem- possible, the APL uses a variety of sources itism is monitoring of the prevalence of simultaneously. The incidents are not only antisemitic incidents. One of the aims of recorded, but the characteristics of the in- theA Action and Protection League (APL) dividual incident is also analysed. The data is to heighten the awareness of antisem- recorded includes the incident's location, itism in the society. The primary tool in the perpetrator (if known), victim, and achieving this is continuous professional consequences (if any). In addition, are the monitoring of hate crimes in public life. various types of incidents differentiated in Neither Jewish communities nor individ- the reports. ual Jews can be protected unless there is Action and Protection Foundation (APF) data on antisemitic incidents and other identified four incidents of antisemitic hate hate crimes and that these are collected crime this month. Three incidents are clas- and analysed. The data collected by the sified as hate speech, one is categorized Action and Protection League are pub- as discrimination. In the first event, APF lished in monthly reports, and a summary received a notification about some anti- of the findings is published for the indi- semitic writing from unknown individu- vidual countries/regions in a yearly report. als on an empty advertising hoarding at a The reports deal with two forms of be- tram stop. The second case we registered haviour: antisemitic hate crimes and involved a picture posted on the Facebook hate-motivated incidents. Both types of wall of KDNP’s Pécs-Baranya organization, behaviour are referred to as "hate incidents" the picture was originally designed to sp- in the reports. The main difference be- read Nazi propaganda. The third case in- tween an antisemitic hate crime and other volved a couple from Dusnok, whose child was taken away from them because they this month is about the objections to Beat- had not registered him or her at birth due rix Siklósi’s appointment as head of Kos- to a specific ideology. A person, known to suth Rádió. be antisemitic and linked to the family, APF initiated one legal proceeding in described in a video recording that ‘the January. We received notification of a case synagogue of the Parliament’ and ‘Juda- classified as discrimination. After having pest’ should be put in their places. In the symptoms of quinsy, the notifier contacted case of the event classified as discrimina- a medical on-call service on 24 December tion, a patient was insulted while receiving 2019. The doctor in the medical institution medical care. was offensive and discriminatory towards The section titled Further Hate Incidents the notifier, at one point the doctor said presents one case this month. This section that “You wouldn’t come here if you watched a includes incidents which are classified as film about Jesus, yet you wouldn’t understand it hate crimes but we would not include them since you apparently profess a different religi- in our most recent statistics due to their on”. APF initiated proceedings at the Equal insignificant nature, the lack of clear anti- Treatment Authority (Egyenlô Bánás- semitic motive or because the time of the mód Hatóság) and the Hungarian Medical incident is unknown. The case presented Chamber (Magyar Orvosi Kamara).

4 ACTION AND PROTECTION LEAGUE

In the last decade there has been a rise wing expressions of prejudice against in antisemitism in Europe. Surveys by e.g. Jews frequently have old roots, not only the European Union Agency for Funda- among groups related to Fascism and Na- mental Rights (FRA)1 and the ADL Glob- zism, but at times also in populist-nation- al 1002 show a broad spectrum of antisem- alist settings. In several countries Jews itism and how it fluctuates over time. have found themselves under more threat The character of antisemitic incidents is during the last decade. This does not only quite different in the monitored countries include physical attacks against Jews and concerning content, expressions, and per- Jewish institutions but is also visible in petrators. Current antisemitism is mainly the growth of conspiracy theories, online connected to Islamism, Far-right groups, hatred, and political campaigns favouring and Far-left groups. Islamist expressions banning of, e.g., brit milah and kashrut. are most frequent in countries with large Countering antisemitism becomes an Muslim populations in Western Europe increasingly urgent issue for Europe. Ac- and uncommon in Eastern and Central tion and Protection League of Europe Europe. Far-left expressions of antisemi- (APL) has been established to explore the tism can often be found disguised as An- causes of modern-day antisemitism and to ti-Zionism in Western Europe and is often implement effective defense. connected to the conflict in the Middle East. In East and Central Europe, right- ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE 1 EUROPEAN UNION AGENCY FOR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: ANTISEMITISM - OVERVIEW OF DATA AVAILABLE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 2008–2018 2 https://global100.adl.org ABOUT THE REPORT

The general opinion on, and treatment of, suffer. These crimes are often not “only” antisemitism often takes extreme forms. On against property or lead to physical threat the one hand, some voices try to belittle the of individuals, but it also concerns self-dig- importance of such offenses and manifesta- nity. The offenses indicate that the victim is tions. On the other hand, on occasion, one- not an equal member or a member at all of off incidents are exaggerated in the public the society. Since hate crimes, in general, arena to such an extent that they give the target victims due to some unchangeable impression that they are frequent or a regu- characteristics (real or imagined), the vic- lar part of daily life. Knowledge of the actu- tim becomes almost defenseless. Victims al situation(s) is an indispensable condition often fear that they may again be targets of for the treatment of real problems. Moni- similar incidents or worse atrocities if they toring of antisemitic hate crimes and inci- identify perpetrators to relevant authorities. dents3 is one of the tools used in achieving Inappropriate handling of such incidents this objective. may easily lead to secondary victimization From 2019 the Action and Protection where the victim can be led to believe that League has decided to monitor seven Eu- it was their fault, e.g., by not being careful ropean countries. In the first stage, data is enough, etc. This type of criminal act also, collected from seven countries: Austria, as mentioned, has an effect on the group Czechia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slova- as a whole. The victims of these crimes are kia, and Sweden, and more countries will often interchangeable, since they are not be added later. All countries have their own targeted at individuals and any other mem- 5 particularities and vast differences when it ber could just as well have been targeted. comes to the monitoring of antisemitism This means that all members of the targeted – in some cases, there are several organisa- group become potential victims and might tions with similar goals as the APL and in live in fear of a future when they themselves other countries, few or no similar activities. may be the target of a prejudice-motivated In no case will APL try to replace existing crime. This situation is particularly poi- organisations, but rather seek cooperation gnant for groups that have been exposed to and exchange of data. prejudice for a long time. There is no need Apart from the monthly reports, an annu- to justify at length why Jews belong among al summary review, including more detailed such groups. These crimes undermine the analyses on the incidents, is published. All fundamental value that all members of a reports are published in English, and al- society are of equal value. Inadequate han- most all are published in the local language. dling of such incidents can have grave con- The fight against hate crimes is of utmost sequences for the society as a whole. Not importance since it differs from many oth- only may it encourage the perpetrators to er forms of criminal conduct. On one lev- commit further crimes, but it significantly el can these crimes and incidents can be diminishes the cohesive power of society as considered as messages. They are not only a whole4. about the victim in question but points to It is not an exaggeration to state that few- a larger group. Antisemitism and other hate er hate crimes are reported and document- crimes are thus not only attacks against ed than are committed. The discrepancy individuals, but the social fabric of the so- between committed crimes and reported ciety as a whole. This does not, of course, crimes vary significantly between different diminish the distress and psychological countries is not necessarily connected to trauma which individual victims might the number of Jews. A contributing factor

3 See detailed definitions in the Methodology section. 4 Levin & McDevitt 1999, 92-93; OSCE/ODIHR 2009a, 19-21; OSCE/ODIHR 2009b, 17-18; Perry 2001, 10). to the under-reporting is that victims rarely that reporting is thus useless. report them to the police or relevant au- It is civic organizations that can help rem- thority. There are several causes for this: edy these problems. These organizations many victims are not convinced that the au- can cooperate with police and relevant au- thorities will handle the matter adequately, thorities, but also an intermediary between either because they lack the competence or victim and authority. Reports by civic orga- that they are prejudiced. In addition, many nizations can be expedient in alerting offi- victims are unaware of applicable laws or cial authorities on hate-motivated crimes, where to turn for help. Furthermore, some and long-term tendencies can be outlined victims are worried that their concealed through the use of collected data. Civil or- traits will be exposed and that they might ganizations can prepare cases for legal pro- suffer more by reporting incidents. Victims cess, may provide legal defense for victims, might also fear that authorities will not be and give other forms of aid and support. able to prove a hate-crime motivation and

6 ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE METHODOLOGY

The report deals with two types of offense: The monthly report presents hate crimes hate crimes and hate motivated incidents. and hate incidents motivated by antisemitism These are defined by OSCE as follows5 in the broadest possible sense: perpetrator, (OSCE/ODIHR 2009b, 15–16): target, means, or message. The target may be a person, a group, an event, a building, a • hate crime: a crime as defined by the monument, or other property. It is essential, criminal code, which has been motivat- however, that an antisemitic motivation can be ed by prejudice against a certain group established. This means that the perpetrator of people6 chose the given target on the basis that he/she • hate-motivated incident: an offense, was Jewish or perceived as being Jewish. It is also based on prejudice against a specif- thus not relevant whether the assumption is ic group of people, but not reaching the correct or not: the belief of the target’s con- level of criminal conduct. nection to Jewry is sufficient. In the course of monitoring, all incidents The heightened importance of individual that fall in the category of hate crime are hate crimes is indicated by the fact that the also considered hate incidents. These may criminal code of numerous countries deals be crimes identified as such by the Criminal with these cases separately. Although there is Code in the individual country (e.g. violent as- a widely accepted definition of antisemitism sault of a member of a community, incitement (see IHRA 2017), there is currently no consis- to hatred of a community, denial of the crimes tent definition of hate crimes in the countries of the national socialist regime, use of symbols monitored by the APL. of autocratic regimes etc.), but can also include 7 In addition are the legal consequences dif- other acts mentioned in the Criminal Code, if ferent in the monitored countries. This means prejudice can be proven as a motivating factor. that an incident which a crime in one country When identifying hate incidents, various in- could be legal in another. The obvious exam- dicators are recorded during the monitoring ple concerns the so-called Holocaust denial, period7 and are used as the basis for examin- which, e.g., is outlawed in Hungary, but legal ing whether the given action could have been in several countries monitored by APL. Since motivated by antisemitism. the Action and Protection League has a broad For the broadest possible scope in scope when it comes to data collection, every- monitoring antisemitic hate incidents, the thing is covered in the reports, but in some simultaneous use of a variety of sources is instances, similar acts are filed as a crime in required. In addition to media monitoring, one country and "only" an incident in another. reports from local informants the Action and In every case, we follow the definitions in the Protection League also rely on reports filed by criminal code of the individual countries. We victims. In Hungary, the Action and Protection estimate that this problem will diminish over League has a 24-hours-a-day Hotline that time due to the adaptation of the same defini- serves to ease the passage of reports. The tions and legislation in the European Union. goal is to supply a similar service for the other Our reports contain detailed descriptions countries so reports can be filed in the local of the definition of hate incidents and our ap- languages. It is also possible to file reports proach to solving the problems. The reports anonymously online. Such reports will be of are based on sources taken from internation- especially great importance to this study. If a al, independent monitoring services, local victim cannot or does not want to file a report, informants as well as data collected by other the APL can use an intermediary to help the organizations working with same or similar victim in the process. Such an intermediary issues. may be a family member, an acquaintance of

5 The scientific definition of hate crimes is extremely contradictory and divergent (for more on this, see Chakraborti and Garland 2009, 4–7). These definitions can serve as important addenda to an understanding of these crimes; however, they are difficult to apply in practice. This is what made the creation of simpler, more practical definitions necessary. 6 For example, on these grounds the OSCE does not consider hate speech a hate crime, since the given behaviour would not count as criminal without the motive of prejudice (OSCE/ODIHR 2009a, 24). For our approach in dealing with this, see below. 7 These indicators are described in the Methodology section the victim, a witness of the incident, or another reported to Action and Protection civil organization. League appearing on blogs, forums, It is a declared objective of the League to community pages and similar. be in close contact with the authorities, since • Antisemitic and neo-Nazi material de- in some countries, they are the first to be ap- livered to particular Jewish individuals, proached by victims or witnesses. Jewish organizations, institutions A variety of media channels also represent • Antisemitic and neo-Nazi material de- relevant sources: television, radio, as well as the posited at Jewish-owned property, Jew- printed and online versions of the press. An ish organizations, institutions or similar essential segment of the report is composed of • Criticism related to Israel and Zionism, monitoring the expressions of online hatred as if they go beyond a political statement a phenomenon that is continually growing. and serve to recall traditional anti-Jew- The public discourses are monitored by a ish stereotypes team of experts. One of our aims is to cover the • Moreover, events apt to raise fear among increasingly large segment of the media with Jews. continuous monitoring. Monitoring extends to roughly all receivable TV and radio stations, all Hate incidents that are not accounted for the printed press with high print-runs, as well in the statistics9 : as online material not only on news portals, but the social comment arenas and extreme, hate • Antisemitic hate incidents that are re- 8 inciting websites. The monitoring process is lated to the countries monitored and carried out systematically, according to precise- Jewry in these countries, but for some ly prepared standards. reason do not belong to the scope of the Among the monitored hate incidents, some statistics (e.g., they did not occur in the are considered a part of the statistics, but some country in question, antisemitic intent are recorded, though not counted as part of the cannot be proven, or the circumstances statistics.8 are unclear) The categories for h ate incidents that are in- • Expressions of hate that appear regular- cluded in the statistics are as follow: ly on homepages, in comments and on- line forums, but have not been reported • The hate incidents have to have occurred in to Action and Protection League. the countries monitored; no matter wheth- • Other news that only indirectly are er the victim is a citizen of the country or linked to antisemitism not • Any action, incident, atrocity that is aimed A number of the aspects of the registered at Jewish individuals, organizations or incidents are recorded. The indicators that property where an antisemitic intent or help decide whether a given incident was content can be proven, or if the victim was motivated by prejudice are mentioned above. attacked for being Jewish or due to an as- These indicators pertain to various char- sumed Jewish identity acteristics of the perpetrator, data concern- • Deliberate and wanton impairment of any ing the victim, the time and location of the Jewish institution or building (even if no incident. These are recorded in the course of further, antisemitic message was paired collection of data. Tabs are kept on whether with the vandalism [for example, a Jew- incidents had any, and if so, what sort of — ish synagogue’s window is broken with a possible legal —consequences. stone]) Apart from registering incidents, it is also • Antisemitic comments that have been important to capture the qualitative differ- ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE

8 The following were used to develop these criteria: ADL 2012, CST 2013 9 The criteria for hate incidents that are not accounted for in the statistics were modified, therefore the present description is different from the one we used in 2013.

entials between them. The typification of cas- • Threats es is carried out in two ways. According to one · Any clear and specific threat, whether of the systems of categorization, the following verbal or written types are differentiated: incitement against · Any “bomb” which is assessed to be a members of a community, violence against hoax members of a community, use of symbols of · Stalking autocratic regimes, and Holocaust denial. · Defamation Based on the Facing Facts! Guidelines, • Hate speech seven types of incidents are differentiated as · Public hate speech follows10: · Hate speech channeled via the internet and social media • Homicide: any attack on a person that · Abusive behavior causes loss of life · Abusive literature sent to more than one • Extreme physical violence person · Any attack on a person that potentially · Hate speech in literature and music causes serious bodily harm • Discriminatory incidents · Any attack involving weapons, or other tools that can cause bodily harm Placing hate incidents in context is also a · Any attack on property, where there is priority. These actions do not exist in empty a potential for the people occupying the space and are by no means independent of property to be killed the social and cultural environment in which 9 · Bombs and letter bombs they occur. The dynamics of these incidents · Kidnapping is also of importance: often the processes, • Assault rather than separately occurring events (Per- · Any physical attack against a person or ry 2001, 8). Apart from the static data, short people, which does not pose a threat to descriptions of each event are also published, their life and is not serious which leads to a better understanding of the · Attempted assault, which fails due to environment surrounding the incidents.11 In self-defense, or if the victim runs away presenting timelines, attention will always be · Throwing objects at a person or people, given to showing the dynamics of the events. including where the object misses its target • Damage to property · Any physical attack directed against property, which is not life-threatening · Desecration of property · Arson attacks on property where there is not threat to life, failed attempts at arson

10 CEJI 2012, 10–12 11 These descriptions, in particular, are held to be the most positive aspect of the Anti-Defamation League reports by Perry (2001, 18). ANTISEMITIC HATE INCIDENTS – JANUARY 2020

Action and Protection Foundation iden- the Gothic alphabet. The article also quotes tified four antisemitic hate crimes over the from the Fundamental Law of Hungary, course of its monitoring activities in the a part12 which is rather controversial and month of January. The incidents are classi- deemed discriminatory by its critics. The fied as hate speech or discrimination. Gothic writing on the picture says that “Man is the protector of family, Woman is the heart of HATE SPEECH family. Children are the future of family. Man and woman, a union as nature intended.” Antisemitic writing at a tram stop in Budapest Szabad Pécs wrote it was possible that Source: Action and Protection Foundation those who manage the Facebook page did not know about the source and style elements of January 17, 2020 APF received a notifi- the picture but it was also added that timing cation that an antisemit- was rather unfortunate since the picture had ic writing had appeared been posted a day after Holocaust Memori- on an empty advertising al Day – and KDNP’s local organization had hoarding at one of the posted in relation to that, too. tram stops in Fôvám tér, However, since the individual who man- Budapest. With black ages that page simply deleted the picture marker pen, unknown without any comments soon after the Szabad individuals wrote “homo Pécs article was published, it is plausible they 10 cocksucker [sic] Jewish Mo- had known its origin. ment um” on the glass sur- face. Volunteers of APF re- source: Action and Protection Foundation moved the writing.

KDNP Pécs spread Nazi propaganda on their Facebook wall Source: szabadpecs.hu

January 28, 2020 Szabad Pécs published that a picture was posted on the Facebook wall of KDNP’s Pécs-Baranya organization, source: szabadpecs.hu /Facebook.com a picture which was originally designed to spread Nazi propaganda. The picture in “Hungary is an Israeli firm registered in question is attached below: New York” The article of Szabad Pécs presented Source: index.hu; youtube.com that the original picture – with an SS bolt removed in this case – is believed to be January 29, 2020 An antisemitic conspir- the work of Harald Damsleth, most online acy theory and an individual well-known sources state the same. There are Norwe- for his or her extremist views are linked to gian, English and German Wikipedia pages a couple from Dusnok, who were not willing about the Norwegian illustrator, originally to register their child at birth – the case was from Germany, who is mostly known for his broadly covered by Hungarian press. Nazi propaganda posters. One of the arche- As is known, with the help of the police, types of Nazi symbolism is a white man pro- the guardianship authority took a four- tecting his family and there are usually pithy month-old child from his or her parents in ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE messages written over it in fonts resembling Dusnok, Bács-Kiskun County. This hap-

12 The Fundamental Law of Hungary Article L) (1) Hungary shall protect the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman established by voluntary decision, and the family as the basis of the survival of the nation. Family ties shall be based on marriage or the relationship between parents and children. pened because the parents were not willing synagogue of the Parliament and to all the other to register the newborn at birth, the infant mobs for what they do in Judapest.” did not receive the mandatory vaccinations Imre Posta has a blog on postaimre.magyar- and the parents refused to cooperate with nemzetikormany.com. He writes about various authorities. conspiracy theories daily using antisemitic The support group that helps the family statements and language, he uses expres- consists of members of the so-called MAG sions like “Jewish Masonic conspirators”. movement (MAG stands for ‘Mintaként Al- kalmazott Gondviselés’ – ‘Care Applied like DISCRIMINATION the Standard’) and some radicals in con- nection with the movement. MAG’s ideol- Discriminatory case at medical institute ogies are based on subsistence agriculture Source: Action and Protection Foundation and a spiritual worldview with nationalistic tendencies, on building small communities January 27, 2020 APF received a notifica- and finding possibilities to partially with- tion about a discriminatory case. The notifier draw from society. However, some more informed us that he or she visited a medical radical views not recognizing the state are on-call service on 24 December 2019 be- also present in the network. According to cause of having symptoms of quinsy. The such views, newborns receive a registration doctor at the medical institute greeted him number when they are registered at birth or her with the question “What do you want, so they become properties of a foreign firm. you idiot?”. After the notifier mentioned his 11 Hungary does not even exist, it has lost its or her health problems, the doctor further sovereignty and it is now nothing more but insulted him or her and pronounced an an- an Israeli firm registered in New York. If reg- tisemitic message: “You wouldn’t come here if istered at birth, children will be the slaves of you watched a film about Jesus, yet you wouldn’t this firm. understand it since you apparently profess a dif- An article presented that Imre Posta, ferent religion”. Then after the medical exam- well-known for his extreme antisemitism, ination, the doctor said loudly to the medical also appeared in relation to the case. Posta assistant when prescribing drugs “right, let’s has military background, he used to be a give this moron something!” psychologist at the Republican Guard. He Following the incident, the medical assis- and his supporters are now trying to help tant apologized to the notifier via email for the couple from Dusnok to get their child the doctor’s behavior (on behalf of the doc- back and they believe taking away the infant tor, too) and said he or she would take the from the parents was an “international, armed necessary measures. kidnapping”. The notifier contacted APF to request help Posta took video recordings13 of his and our legal assistance services took the attempts to get the infant back. There are necessary steps. We also present this case antisemitic statements and threats audible in the section titled Action and Protection in the recordings, like: “We should show Foundation Legal Actions. these police bastards that we could step on the c*ck any time. Obviously, the message goes to the

13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t32E3ptlTqg FURTHER HATE INCIDENTS

During January 2020 monitoring, Action to be called heroic. APF objected to Siklósi’s and Protection Foundation identified one appointment in 2018 because we believed she incident of antisemitic hate crime which is was unsuitable to the position in all respects. We classified as hate crime but we would not strongly stick to our opinion now that the media include it in our most recent statistics due worker known for her antisemitic provocations to its insignificant nature, the lack of clear has been appointed as head of Kossuth Rádió.” antisemitic motive or because the time of Three opposition members of Közszol- the incident is unknown. gálati Közalapítvány’s (Public Foundation of Public Service) Board of Trustees József De- Objections to appointing Beatrix Siklósi as breczeni, László Kránitz and Máté Silhavy head of Kossuth Rádió issued a statement of objection against Be- Source: media1.hu; merce.hu; MTI; Action atrix Siklósi assuming Marianna Mucsányi’s and Protection Foundation; 168ora.hu; terjed. post as head of Kossuth Rádió. ahang.hu; neokohn.hu They wrote in their communication, pub- lished by Média1, that Siklósi “made hateful January 7, 10 & 27-28, 2020 Action and comments on various platforms” and traditional Protection Foundation addressed a letter churches distanced themselves from her in to László Budai, Dr. Ágnes Hankiss, Lász- a joint statement in 2014 by stating “we find ló Meszleny and Károly Szadai, members of her intolerable. Her openly discriminatory and Médiatanács (Media council) with manage- antisemitic comments and statements make her 12 ment rights over MTVA. APF asks them to unsuitable to organize religious programs.” review the decision of appointing Beatrix Chairman of the Board of Trustees Siklósi as head of at Közszolgálati Kossuth Rádió, fol- Közalapítvány Lász- lowing Mariann ló Balogh criticized Mucsányi, because Debreczeni, Kránitz of Siklósi’s extremist and Silhavy in his re- statements and ac- sponse to their letter tivities that have re- and highlighted that cently become public the dissenting opin- knowledge. ion shall not have any “The role of public source: hvg.hu impact on Siklósi’s broadcasting is to create and represent national appointment. With regards to the objections unity. Only individuals whose previous activities of 2014, Balogh said that “the quotes were the are not controversial or exclusionary but stand for products of a previous media hysteria and their unity and tolerance shall be appointed to such an accuracy is doubtful”. important position.” Siklósi first stirred up a scandal in 2003 It’s worth to remember that as a result of when she spoke to prominent British pressure from traditional churches in 2014, Holocaust denier David Irving in a program Siklósi had to be removed from her post as head entitled Éjjeli menedék (Night Shelter) of the state television’s religious programs because broadcasted by MTV1. Irving said in the she regularly published antisemitic posts, racist program that the Hungarian Revolution jokes and articles from kurucinfo on Facebook. In of 1956 was an “antisemitic rebellion and 2018, Siklósi was appointed as head of cultural pogrom” against “Jewish rule”. The channel channel M5, which has broadcasted programs terminated the program after the scandalous discussing for example that soldiers fighting in interview. Irving was imprisoned in Austria the Budapest formation of Waffen SS deserve for Holocaust denial in 2006. ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE The last time Beatrix Siklósi was in the have Executive Rabbi Slomó Köves himself as a news was when Kristóf Trombitás’s program guest once, and the Rabbi did not mention he had on channel M5, edited by Siklósi, presented any concerns or problems with Beatrix Siklósi.” homosexuality as an illness, which people Yet, Action and Protection Foundation could be “cured” of. A guest of the program, had expressed objection against Siklósi’s ap- a Catholic priest also voiced this opinion. pointment as mentioned above. In another program, Siklósi said soldiers Executive Rabbi of the Unified Hungarian fighting in the Budapest formation of Waffen Jewish Congregation (EMIH) reacted that “I SS were heroic. do find and I have found all of Beatrix Sikló- Later, the press presented that over 20 si’s appointments, including the latest, intol- Jewish and other organizations signed the erable both personally and organizationally. petition calling for Siklósi’s removal from I resent the public statement referring to my her position. The Holocaust Memorial Cen- opinion.” Rabbi Köves added that “The rac- ter, the Javne Lauder Jewish Community ist and antisemitic imagery of Beatrix Siklósi’s School, Haver Foundation, Bálint House, work, Magyar Média Iskola (Hungarian Media the March of the Living Foundation, Sim School) being advertised on kuruc.info and her Shalom Congregation, the Hungarian Jew- Facebook posts about Jewish pilgrims in To- ish Cultural Association (Mazsike) and the kaj-Hegyalja all vividly portray the views of Be- Scheiber Sándor School were among the or- atrix Siklósi, editor of the program entitled Éjjeli ganizations signing the petition. menedék (Night Shelter) which at times opened However, CEO of MTVA Dániel Papp with quotes from Szálasi. A person who has in- 13 stirred even more emotions when he stated vited in her programs Holocaust denier David Ir- he strongly agreed that antisemitism was in- ving, György Budaházy and Lóránt Hegedûs Jr tolerable in public life. Supporting this, he is absolutely unsuitable to hold a position in public wrote that “cultural channel M5, which was pre- broadcasting”. viously headed by Beatrix Siklósi, was honored to COMMUNITY NEWS AND RESPONSES

This year’s Raoul Wallenberg Prize awarded not who our parents were but what we do with Source: varosikurir.hu their memory. (…) Our common task is to make commemorations meaningful even when survivors, January 16, 2020 Born on 4 August people who have personal experiences of the 1912, as secretary of the Swedish Embassy Holocaust, will not be with us anymore”. in Budapest Raoul Wallenberg saved the Köves talked about how Fidesz mayor of lives of thousands of people in 1944 (twenty Budapest District 12 Zoltán Pokorni’s words thousand according to some sources) by about his grandfather were received. “Not only issuing Swedish passports or sheltering was I surprised by his honest words but also by people in safe houses. On 17 January how they were received, how few people received 1945, Wallenberg set off to Debrecen to them with reasonable openness and sensitivity.” meet members of the Temporary National Köves added that “ just as it is not a merit to Government and the Soviet General’s be descendants of survivors, it is not sinful to be the headquarters but he never arrived. The grandchildren of offenders.” complete and accurate history of his Mayor of Erzsébetváros Péter Niedermüller imprisonment in the Soviet Union is still said that “commemoration is always a moral and unknown. a political act. What happened in District 7 and The Raoul Wallenberg Association, the in the whole of Budapest in the winters of 1944 Raoul Wallenberg Foundation and the and 1945 is our Ministry of Human Resources (EMMI) country’s shame. 14 initiated the Raoul Wallenberg Prize in It is unforgettable Wallenberg’s memory in 2010. Founders and unforgivable of the prize wanted to set an example and (...) a burden we an ethical standard in Hungarian social all need to live and political life by issuing the award. They with” – said the would like to annually honor the work, politician. humanity and social-minded behavior “The darkest of people and organizations whose lives sin of Hungarian and activities are showing examples of history is we could advocating the disadvantaged and victims not protect our Jewish compatriots, or we did not source: MTI of discrimination. Founders of the prize want to protect them since a series of anti-Jewish wish to fight against prejudice, racism, laws were already introduced in the 1920s (…). We antisemitism and anti-Roma behavior. have had to face this liability up to this day” – said Niedermüller. 75th Anniversary of Budapest Ghetto Liber- The hatred that initiated the events of the ation commemorated Holocaust is a terrible sin and therefore it is Source: MTI; hirklikk.hu one of our most important duties to speak up against hate speech and discrimination – January 17 and 19, 2020 “Hatred and added the Mayor. hateful people shall not be remembered with Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Yakov hatred but with dignity” – said Executive Hadas-Handelsman highlighted in his speech Rabbi of the Unified Hungarian Jewish that when walking on the streets of Budapest, Congregation (EMIH) Slomó Köves at the several memorial sites prompts us to “stop and event held in Budapest to commemorate contemplate on the outrageousness of the past”. the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Commemoration is especially important Budapest Ghetto. nowadays when antisemitism is growing in Slomó Köves said that “the question is Europe, when people are publicly attacked ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE because of their religious and ethnic ghetto from yellow-star houses around the backgrounds – stated the Ambassador. city. Then the numbers increased rapidly, Head of Budapest’s Orthodox Rabbinate 70-80 thousand flats were involved by the Rabbi Báruch Oberlander recited a Kaddish beginning of the following year. At the in memory of the victims, then attendees of time of the liberation on 18 January, 3,000 the event lit memorial candles. unburied dead bodies were found just on A commemoration was held in the Dohány Klauzál Square. Street Synagogue, too. Chief Rabbi of the Synagogue Róbert Frölich said that the “75 years later, is Auschwitz really liberated?” tragedy of the Jewish community in Hungary Source: tev.hu did not start when the first trains left for Auschwitz. The persecution of Jews started January 22, 2020 EU diplomats and high- with words, ideologies, writings, a change in ranking representatives of several European public discourse, thoughts and emotions that countries attended the event in Poland that set the course towards setting up ghettos. marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation “We cannot let ourselves forget because then we of Auschwitz. will be damned to be forgotten” and in that case, The recently established Action and nothing prevents history from repeating Protection League (APL) introduced itself itself – said Rabbi Frölich. at the joint event of the European Jewish Deputy State Secretary responsible for Association (EJA) and the International civil society relations at the Prime Minister’s March of the Living. President of APL is 15 Office Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky stressed Executive Rabbi of the Unified Hungarian that every generation must contemplate Jewish Congregation (EMIH) and founder on the sins of the past in order to be able of Action and Protection Foundation to “understand and communicate the painful (APF) Slomó Köves. APL was established sacrifice of our ancestors”. Hungary unites with the cooperation of European and faces the past so that no members of a Jewish organizations and it builds on the national, ethnic or religious community methodology and the best practices of APF. would be a victim of infringement – stressed In his opening speech, Head of EJA the Deputy State Secretary. Menachem Margolin warned that the President of the Budapest Jewish fight against antisemitism is the fight Congregation Tamás Mester and Israeli between good and evil. Hungarian Justice Ambassador to Hungary Yakov Hadas- Minister Judit Varga, former President of Handelsman also spoke at the event. the European Parliament Antonio Tajani A few foreign news agencies and from Italy, Minister-President of Flanders newspapers covered the commemoration in Jan Jambon and President of the Austrian Budapest. National Council Wolfgang Sobotka A regulation of the Ministry of Interior spoke at the event. MPs for MSZP Attila defining the borders of the ‘Great’ Budapest Mesterházi and Tamás Harangozó, MP for Ghetto was published on 29 November 1944. KDNP István Simicskó and Deputy State The territory enclosed by Dohány Street, Secretary responsible for international and Nagyatádi Szabó (today: Kertész) Street, EU affairs István Kovács were members of Király Street, Csányi Street, Rumbach the Hungarian delegation. Sebestyén Street, Madách Imre Street, President of Action and Protection League Madách Imre Square and Károly Avenue (APL) Slomó Köves said that initiatives against were locked off on 10 December. 40 thousand the Jewish community are still experienced people were moved to the 4,513 flats of the 75 years after Auschwitz and therefore the fight against ideologies is motivated by duty. which could be standards to follow in This fight needs clear and unambiguous some other member states of the EU. guidance, as well as unity between political Frank Müller-Rosentritt spoke about the groups and those who shape public discourse law submitted to and approved by the — stressed Rabbi Köves. The head of APL, Bundestag, which forbid the state to support which is now present in 12 countries, stated the BDS movement in any way. Deputy that they offer methodological innovations to Chairman and General Director of the European countries, giving more thorough International March of the Living Aharon and comprehensive overviews of antisemitism Tamir talked about the results of the than before. Besides the disclosure of organization’s activities, while Portuguese antisemitic attitudes, APL’s new, pan- Secretary of State of Education Joao Costa European data collection method provides held a presentation about the possible steps a solution to the monitoring of antisemitic to counter hatred and fake news being attacks. spread online and Judit Varga called targeting mainly young Auschwitz one of the people. biggest cemeteries, our Guests of the event Jewish compatriots attended an official who died there will be commemoration 16 forever missed – she ceremony Tuesday said. According to the morning at the former minister, Western- concentration camp of European examples show source: MTI Auschwitz-Birkenau. that there are people who have not learned from Auschwitz, yet one should not be worried Commemorations held on International Ho- about similar cases happening in Hungary locaust Remembrance Day as besides the national memorial days and Source: MTI; neokohn.hu; mazsihisz.hu educational programs, legal frameworks ensure the security of the Jewish community. January 27-28, 2020 “It is up to us whether President of the Austrian National Council we learn from the past and gain strength from and former Federal Minister of the Interior the sacrifice the victims of the 20th century made Wolfgang Sobotka, Director of the European and from the examples of people who saved Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) lives” – said the Hungarian Minister of State seated in Vienna Michael O’Flaherty, Senator for Public Administration of the Ministry and Vice-Chair of the European Affairs of Human Resources (EMMI) Csaba Committee in the French Senate André Latorcai at the commemoration held on Gattolin, intelligence officer in the Israeli the International Holocaust Remembrance Defense Forces Keren Knoll and Chief Rabbi Day at the Holocaust Memorial Center in of the Netherlands Binyomin Jacobs gave Budapest. speeches at the event. Rabbi Jacobs stressed Minister Latorcai said that “we are that his grandchildren go to a school where responsible for the whole world and for the the wire fence makes it look like a prison. future of Europe. It is up to us whether we “75 years later, is Auschwitz really liberated?” support peace or our worlds will be overcome by – he asked. unrest”. At the end of the event, presenters spoke The Minister of State said that in the about positive initiatives and best practices, past 9 years, the government has achieved ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE significant results in preserving the Israeli Ambassador to Hungary Yakov memory of the Holocaust. The programs Hadas-Handelsman said that 75 years after offered and the government measures laid the end of World War II, antisemitism new foundations for facing this dark era is growing again worldwide. Growing of Hungarian history. With the politics xenophobia and hatred of others go together of memory, the identity of Hungarian with denying and relativizing the Holocaust. communities has strengthened. This is manifested in speeches, writings, and Latorcai also said it was worrying and even in schools. The Ambassador stressed sad that 75 years after the liberation of the that antisemitism in not only the problem of Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp, today’s the Jewish community but also of the society Europe – whose identity has for centuries in which it unfolds. Antisemitism may be the been defined by the traditions of Christian- forerunner of other forms of discrimination Jewish culture – is about to set off on a and hatred, which endanger the stability of dangerous journey which threatens the society and usually affect people who are continent’s defining and identity-shaping different from most of the society. basic foundation. Russian Ambassador to Hungary Vladimir Director of the Holocaust Memorial Sergejev said they were proud of their Center Tamás Kovács said it cannot be fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers overemphasized that a third of the victims who liberated “one of Hitler’s greatest death killed in Auschwitz were deported from factories” , the Auschwitz-Birkenau death the territory of Hungary. The only sin of camp. Ambassador Sergejev stated that 17 these people was that they were Jewish or on 18 January 75 years ago, soldiers of the Roma or they were not liked by leaders of Red Army liberated the Budapest Ghetto, the regime for some other reasons. Kovács too, where 70,000 people were kept. During said it was important that generations born the commemoration, an exhibition of the after World War II get to know the complete Russian Holocaust Research and Education history, background and after-effects of the Center and the Russian Jewish Congress was Holocaust. Therefore the memorial center opened. organizes programs for students, holds Rabbi Péter Simon Radvánszki recited trainings for teachers and cooperates with a Kaddish at the end of the event, and a number of foreign memorial centers and attendees placed candles at the memorial research institutes – stated the director. wall of victims. In Páva Street, anyone could Secretary-General of the UN António visit the exhibition entitled “A jogfosztástól Guterres’s message for the Remembrance a népirtásig” (From deprivation of rights to Day was read out at the event. Guterres genocide) free of charge. wrote that 75 years ago, the bloodshed was 27 January, the day when the Auschwitz over with the liberation of the death camps death camp was liberated in 1945, was and the world was outraged when the crimes designated as International Holocaust committed by the Nazis were revealed. 75 Remembrance Day by the United Nations years later, there are Neo-Nazis again and General Assembly on 1 November 2005. there are people who proclaim the superiority Commemorations were held at several of white people, and there are people who locations nationwide – said multiple press continue to try and lessen the severity of the organs. Holocaust and deny or diminish the liability The municipal administration of Budapest of perpetrators. However, just as hatred District 8 held a commemoration at the Kis- persists, so should our decision to counter it Varsó (Little Warsaw) memorial plate on – said the Secretary-General. Népszínház Street, remembering victims killed by Nazis and members of the Arrow innocent 600,000 Hungarian compatriots Cross Party. Mayor András Pikó, member killed. They said that human dignity shall of the so-called Teleki ’44 research Kata E. not only be protected from physical violence Fris and rector of the Budapest University but from written and verbal abuse and harms of Jewish Studies Károly Vajda delivered caused by political propaganda, too. speeches at the event. Rabbi István Darvas The statement of Magyar Liberális Párt said a Kaddish at the ceremony. drew attention to the fact that between 1941 Statements issued by opposition parties and 1945, with the involvement of Hungarian highlighted the importance of action authorities, over 400 thousand Hungarian against incitement to hatred and of Jews were deported and killed. Over a mutual responsibility on Monday, on the million people lost their lives in Auschwitz- International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Birkenau, and every third of them was MSZP sent a communication to MTI Hungarian. The anti-Jewish laws passed by and wrote they were commemorating the the Hungarian parliament paved the way of millions of people who became victims of the cruel killings – said the communication. the politics of hatred 75 years ago. Besides Párbeszéd highlighted in their statement paying tribute, we need to remind ourselves that “we shall not forget how tragic and of our mutual responsibility and we shall inhumane consequences exclusion, discrimination remember not to let the darkest era of history and prejudice may have”. Leaders and every happen ever again – said the statement. man in the world shall be vigilant and we 18 President of Demokratikus Koalíció wrote should reject all forms of incitement to a Facebook post recalling his previous trip hatred together – they said. to Washington and visiting the Holocaust At the venues called ’Emlékpont’ (Memory Memorial Museum. “Honor to people who Point) and ’Magyar Tragédia 1944’ (Hungarian remained humane in those times. There were Tragedy 1944) in Hódmezôvásárhely, a quiz painfully few of them.” – said the post. and a book launch were held and people paid LMP communicated that the political tributes to observe International Holocaust community of the party remembers with Remembrance Day. grace the millions of victims, including the ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE OFFICIAL AND CIVIL RESPONSES

Police could not find attacker of cantor from The monument stands at the site of the Nyíregyháza – investigation terminated former Neolog synagogue on Csanád vezér Source: hirklikk.hu; mazsiszem.hu Square, directly in front of the Makó po- lice headquarters. Allegedly, this was not January 1, 2020 Cantor and Chairman the first instance of such a damage, but the of the Commemorative Committee for writing was easily removed. the Hungarian Jewish Freedom Fighters Based on statement from the police, the (MAZSISZEM) Dániel Imre Rosenfeld man appeared again at the monument on was victim of an antisemitic assault in Au- 3 January (!) and when he was convinced gust 2019 in Nyíregyháza. APF presented that no one saw him, he wrote something the case at the time. The police terminated on the pedestal of the monument using the investigation, without findings, in Jan- black crayon. Then, he left the site on his uary this year. bicycle. The cantor was surrounded by a group During data collection, investigators of five young men who were spitting, swip- identified the alleged offender, he was ing their arms and saying that “filthy Jews questioned at the Makó police headquar- belong to gas chambers, Jews to gas chambers, ters for reasonable suspicion of damage to sieg heil…”. property. The suspect pled guilty and he According to MAZSISZEM’s communi- confessed he had committed damage to cation, the police terminated the investi- property at the same site on two previous gation, they were unable to find the per- occasions. 19 petrators.

Man damaging Holocaust monument in Makó detained Source: szegedma.hu

January 22, 2020 Police officers in Makó arrested a 64-year-old local man who had damaged a monument in the center of Makó – stated the county’s police head- quarters. An individual wrote “Jews are murder- ers” on the pedestal, resembling the Star of David, of the Jewish monument in Makó – presented APF in our December 2019 report. Source: delmagyar.hu / APF report of December 2019 NEWS AND OPINIONS ABOUT ANTISEMITISM IN HUNGARY

Memory of victims of Nazism and Fascism János Áder met Hungarian Holocaust survi- shall be respected vors in Jerusalem Source: magyarnemzet.hu Source: MTI

January 19, 2020 At the ministerial January 24, 2020 President János Áder meeting of the International Holocaust met Hungarian Holocaust survivors in Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) held in Jerusalem and told them about the Hungarian Brussels, it was said that greater weight government’s measures to fight antisemitism should be given to preserving and respecting and promote Holocaust education, then he lit the memory of victims of Nazism, Fascism a candle in memory of Holocaust victims. and the Holocaust. János Áder earlier attended the World Sources knowing details about topics Holocaust Forum and during the meeting discussed at the meeting stated that held in Jerusalem, he talked about his participants committed themselves to experiences at the international forum and promote remembrance of Jewish victims the most important learning, the promise of of the Holocaust, victims of the genocide ’never again’. of the Roma and other persecutions and The President highlighted the speech create broader awareness of these in society. given by Buchenwald survivor and Chief 20 Attendees declared they wanted to promote Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau who said he could Holocaust education and preserve the not forgive or forget what had happened 75 memory of the Holocaust. They committed years ago. Using a reference to Noah’s Ark, themselves to increase political support of Rabbi Meu called for peaceful coexistence, research on the Holocaust and make greater friendship and peace between people and for efforts to preserve historical data about the fight against common enemies, illness and persecution of victims. natural disasters. Member countries of the IHRA agreed to Áder told the Hungarian Holocaust cooperate in countering ant-Semitism and survivors that Hungary and Israel have preventing its growth. excellent relations which is further The Stockholm Declaration of 2000 strengthened by the good personal relations stated that the unprecedented character of the two prime ministers. In response to of the Holocaust will always hold universal a question by honorary consul Josi Weiss, meaning, and member countries of the the President said that in international IHRA have now decided to lead efforts comparison, hate attacks against Jews were to promote education, remembrance and extremely rare in Hungary. research on the Holocaust. Áder talked about a renaissance of The goal of the IHRA is that political Hungarian Jewish communities and and social leaders create broader awareness mentioned that outside Hungary in Europe, about the Holocaust to citizens of member Holocaust denial constitute a crime only countries and to international public opinion. in Austria, Germany and France. He also Hungary assumed the chairmanship of the stressed that Hungary maintained zero International Holocaust Remembrance tolerance against antisemitism. Alliance in 2015. In response to a question, the President said ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE that students in 8th grade of primary schools At the end of the meeting, Áder lit a candle are taught the history of the Holocaust as in memory of Holocaust victims. He and the part of the curriculum participants wished and their knowledge is the flourishing also broadened through relations of Hungary films and literary works and Israel would at art classes. continue.

source: origo.hu

OTHER NEWS 21

Statue of Albert Wass inaugurated in commu- far from Miklós Radnóti’s statue because I believe nity center named after Miklós Radnóti in Csepel the fates of these two people are rather similar”. Source: szombat.org; varosikurir.hu Former Lord Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós gave a speech at the event, he stat- January 8-9, 2020 Mayor of Csepel ed that Albert Wass was “one of his most Lénárd Borbély and former Lord Mayor of liked authors”. Budapest István Tarlós inaugurated a new bust of Albert Wass in Csepel, in the garden Albert Wass included in national curriculum of the Radnóti Miklós Community Center. Source: magyarnemzet.hu; szombat.org; The mayor said they commemorate Al- 444.hu bert Wass every year on the day of the poet’s birthday. Participants of the ceremony – the January 9, 2020 There will be more em- camera would not show them but it was said phasis on the works of Albert Wass and there were plenty of them – were told that Magda Szabó, while István Csukás, Ferenc Fidesz had raised money on the 100th an- Herczeg and even the English detective nov- niversary of Wass’s birth for the statue. The el writer Agatha Christie will be parts of the fundraising was led by Szilárd Németh. updated national core curriculum (NAT), “At the time, we were not able to do this in a published soon. public place because we were in opposition” – said Albert Wass’s novel entitled Give me the mayor in his speech. He added that “The back my mountains! was included in the renovated statue of Albert Wass was placed not curriculum. The work is often debated and causes political scandals repeatedly. It is erecting a statue of him was necessary. well-known that the author, who published László L. Simon said that double stan- some antisemitic works of non-fiction and dards shall be eliminated. He explained that his literary works also include antisemitic philosopher György Lukács, personally re- elements sometimes, and his involvement in sponsible for the death of ten people, is still politics have been controversial for years. member of the Hungarian Academy of Sci- Jewish organizations objected that Wass’s ences (MTA), and in terms of his scientific works would be included in the National work it is fair. However, the former Minister Core Curriculum. They requested that Wass of Education and Religion, later acquitted would either be left out from the curriculum by the court, has not been rehabilitated by or there would be some contextualization, MTA. “Scientific work and involvement in poli- i.e. his works would be read critically and his tics shall be separated because Hóman was one of antisemitic and far-right activities would also the major figures in Hungarian science of history be taught so that students would get a com- but he made mistaken political decisions and his plete picture of his career. misconceptions cannot be denied”. A draft curriculum was completed by the Mayor of Székesfehérvár András Cser-Palkovics end of 2018, but it was found that its ap- stated that the debate around the statue proach was not patriotic enough. Therefore, was mainly about issues that had not even President of the Klebelsberg Institute Ga- been discussed at the original trial. He said briella Hajnal was appointed to review the that now no possibility exists for a statue of 22 draft. Later, literary historian with far-right Hóman to be erected in Székesfehérvár, no views Mihály Takaró was also involved in de- proposals have been made for years and no veloping the new curriculum. As a result, all one is planning to erect such a statue. “The six experts on the research group building issue would breach public peace and therefore the framework curriculum for Hungarian lit- erecting a statue is not opportune.” According erature quit the project. to the mayor, voting to pass anti-Jewish laws is intolerable in the case of Hóman and ev- Volume entitled ‘Bálint Hóman and his trial at erything should be done in order not to let the People’s Tribunal’ launched in Székesfehérvár anything similar happen again as at the time, Source: MTI over two thousand respectable citizens from Székesfehérvár were deported and the ma- January 13, 2020 Fidesz MP László L. jority of them never returned. Simon, who had written the prologue of Editor of the volume and teacher at Ko- the book, highlighted that “a collection of es- dolányi János University Gábor Ujvári said says has been written, they establish a different that “Hóman was charged with a number of approach to Hóman and force readers to rein- crimes at first instance, and he was charged with terpret a number of only one them at sec- things in relation to ond instance. Due to him” . According to his leadership position, the politician, histo- he was charged with rian Bálint Hóman’s war crime. The verdict rehabilitation should of 2015 did not acquit have been started Hóman from his polit- with this and only ical decisions but from afterwards should war crimes” . have the decision Ujvári stressed be made of whether that the late scholar ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE source: origo.hu could be described as an antisemitic pol- Jobbik requested Gergely Kulcsár to return itician from 1938 but he was very different mandate from most Hungarian intellectuals. Accord- Source: nepszava.hu ing to Gábor Ujvári, Hóman said the Jewish question featured in Hungary because he January 27, 2020 The new presidency of wanted to counter the cultural and econom- Jobbik requested Gergely Kulcsár to return ic overrepresentation of Jews. This was the his mandate. basis of his antisemitism, it was motivated In 2015, it caused a great scandal that Job- by political calculations, which aggravates it. bik MP Gergely Kulcsár spat on the Shoes on On the other hand, in 1944, it was him who the Danube Bank memorial commemorating exempted numerous Jewish artists and pub- Holocaust victims. His party condemned the lic figures from deportation following the act, Kulcsár apologized. German occupation. Last October, Gergely Kulcsár ran in the Historian, scholar and politician Bálint local elections: he was an independent can- Hóman was born in 1885 in Budapest. He didate in Debrecen supported by Jobbik, was teaching from 1925 and was director of LMP and Momentum. Then, the left-wing the National Széchényi Library and of the opposition and leaders of LMP and Momen- Hungarian National Museum in the early tum found his act intolerable. In the end, 1920s. He was member of the Hungarian Kulcsár announced to step down from can- Academy of Sciences from 1929 and was didacy. He was still elected to Hajdú-Bihar head of the Academy between 1933 and 1945. County’s council. 23 He served as Minister of Religion and Edu- Following Jobbik’s renewal congress cation in the 1930s and 40s under different on Saturday, the party held a presidential governments. He kept this position even af- meeting. Elected President of the party ter the coup d’état of the Arrow Cross Party. Péter Jakab informed Népszava that at their He later fled from the Soviet army, he want- first meeting, the new presidency of Jobbik ed to get to Germany but American troops requested Gergely Kulcsár to return his captured him. In 1946, the People’s Tribunal mandate. The presidency considers their sentenced him to life imprisonment for war decision symbolic. crimes, arguing that Fascism gained more and more ground in public education while he was Minister of Education. He died in prison in 1951 in Vác due to the brutality of the captors. He was buried in an unmarked grave in a prison cemetery. According to the standpoint of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) in 2016, Bálint Hóman was liable for building and strengthening Hungary’s relationship with the autocratic and National Socialist source: 24.hu Germany. ACTION AND PROTECTION FOUNDATION LEGAL ACTIONS

Proceedings requested at Equal Treatment said loudly to the medical assistant when Authority prescribing drugs “right, let’s give this moron Source: Action and Protection Foundation something!” Following the incident, the medical assis- January 27, 2020 APF received notifica- tant apologized to the notifier via email for tion of a case of discrimination. As present- the doctor’s behavior (on behalf of the doc- ed in the section entitled Antisemitic Hate tor, too) and said he or she would take the Incidents, we were informed that the noti- necessary measures. fier had visited a medical on-call service on The notifier contacted APF to request help. 24 December 2019 for having symptoms of The doctor’s behavior seriously breached the quinsy. At the medical institute, the doctor rules of medical ethics, and the reason be- greeted the notifier with the question“What hind it was the supposedly Jewish origin of do you want, you idiot?”. After the notifier told the notifier. the doctor his health problems, the doctor APF provided legal assistance to the noti- further insulted him of her and then pro- fier and requested proceedings at the Equal nounced an antisemitic message that “You Treatment Authority (Egyenlô Bánásmód wouldn’t come here if you watched a film about Hatóság) and reported the case to the Hun- Jesus, yet you wouldn’t understand it since you garian Medical Chamber (Magyar Orvosi apparently profess a different religion”. Then Kamara). APF also asked the doctor’s em- 24 after the medical examination, the doctor ployer to investigate the case. ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE THE MONTH’S CHRONICLE

All the incidents to be found in the report are presented chronologically in the table below. The Category column shows which part of the report deals with the given case in greater detail.

No. Date Incident Category

1. 1st of January Police could not find attacker of cantor from Official and Civil Nyíregyháza – investigation terminated Responses in Hungary 7, 10 & 27-28th of Objections to appointing Beatrix Siklósi as 2. Further hate incidents January head of Kossuth Rádió Statue of Albert Wass inaugurated in 3. 8-9th of January community center named after Miklós Radnóti Other News in Csepel

4. 9th of January Albert Wass included in national curriculum Other News

Volume entitled ‘Bálint Hóman and his 5. 13th of January trial at the People’s Tribunal’ launched in Other News Székesfehérvár Community News And 6. 16th of January This year’s Raoul Wallenberg Prize awarded Responses

Antisemitic Hate Incidents 7. 17th of January Antisemitic writing at a tram stop in Budapest 25 – Hate Speech

17 and 19th of 75th Anniversary of Budapest Ghetto Community News And 8. January Liberation commemorated Responses

9. 19th of January Memory of victims of Nazism and Fascism News and Opinions about shall be respected Antisemitism in Hungary

10. 22nd of January “75 years later, is Auschwitz really Community News And liberated?” Responses

Man damaging Holocaust monument in 11. 22nd of January Official and Civil Makó detained Responses in Hungary

János Áder met Hungarian Holocaust News and Opinions about 12. 24th of January survivors in Jerusalem Antisemitism in Hungary

Antisemitic Hate Incidents 13. 27th of January Discriminatory case at medical institute – Discrimination Community News And 14. 27-28th of January Commemorations held on International Holocaust Remembrance Day Responses

15. 27th of January Jobbik requested Gergely Kulcsár to return Other News mandate No. Date Incident Category

Proceedings requested at Equal Treatment 16. 27th of January APF Legal Actions Authority

17. 28th of January KDNP Pécs spread Nazi propaganda on Antisemitic Hate Incidents their Facebook wall – Hate Speech

“Hungary is an Israeli firm registered in Antisemitic Hate Incidents 18. 29th of January New York” – Hate Speech

26 ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE CONTACT AND SUPPORT

Action and Protection League is the civil initiative of a number of Jewish Action and Protection League’s undertaking can only be successful if organizations that is ready to take resolute steps to curb increasing great numbers share in our commitment to prepare the grounds for the widespread antisemitic manifestations. right to fair process for all those who have suffered offenses. In aid of this In case anyone faces insults or antisemitic abuse due to a supposed or cause please support the work of the Foundation with your contribution! real Jewish background, do not remain silent, let us know, so that we can Donations can be made to the Foundation on the following bank account: forward the case through the appropriate channels to the official organs required to take measures! Notifications of such incidents are received by the Foundation through 13597539-12302010-00057157 any of the following means: Contact details for Action and Protection League Address: 1040 Brussels, Rue de Froissart 109, Belgium HOTLINE (+36 1) 5 1 00 000 Phone: web: The website of Action and Protection League: e-mail: The Facebook page:

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REFERENCES

Anti-Defamation League (ADL). 2012. 2011 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents. Anti-Defamation League (ADL). https://global100.adl.org CEJI. 2012. Make hate Crimes Visible. Facing Facts! Guidelines for Monitoring of Hate Crimes and Hate Motivated Incidents. Facing Facts! project. Chakraborti, Neil and Jon Garland. 2009. Hate Crime. Impact, Causes and Responses. London: Sage Publications. Community Security Trust (CST). 2013. Antisemitic Incidents Report 2012. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA). Antisemitism - Overview of data available in the European Union 2008–2018 Levin, Jack and Jack McDevitt. 1999. “Hate Crimes.” In Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace and Conflict, edited by Lester Kurtz. San Diego: Academic Press, 89–102. OSCE/ODIHR. 2009a. Hate Crime Laws. A Practical Guide. Warsaw: OSCE/ODIHR. OSCE/ODIHR. 2009b. Preventing and responding to hate crimes. A resource guide for NGOs in the OSCE region. Warsaw: OSCE/ODIHR. Perry, Barbara. 2001. In the Name of Hate. Understanding Hate Crimes. New York: Routledge. CONTRIBUTORS AND PUBLISHER INFORMATION

Publisher: Action and Protection League of Europe The publisher wishes to thank Dr. András Kovács, sociologist, Kálmán Szalai, Executive Director Professor at CEU, for all the encouragement and helpful advice.

Editors: Krisztián Nádasi, research scholar, head of the Incident The publishers expresses their gratitude for the self-sacrificing work of Monitoring Group of the Brussels Institute the volunteers who, under expert guidance, have put their continuous 28 Dr. Kristóf Bodó, legal advocate, efforts into the preparation of this report over the past months. Gábor Bodó, research scholar, member of the the Incident Monitoring Group of the Brussels Institute Use of the Report or any part thereof requires written permission from the Bálint Bethlenfalvy, translator publisher and such use must properly cite this report as a reference.

Contributors: Dániel Bodnár, philosopher, Chairman of the 2020 Budapest Action and Protection Foundation Board of Trustees ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES AND INCIDENTS REPORT JANUARY 2020 JANUARY REPORT AND INCIDENTS CRIMES ANTISEMITIC HATE ACTION AND PROTECTION LEAGUE

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