17c起草社区

Charges have been filed against the mayor of Budapest for his role in encouraging people to take to the streets following Hungary’s national Pride ban.

Introduced by Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n of the rightwing populist party, Fidesz, a constitutional amendment was passed in April making聽it an offence to conduct public events that contradict the country鈥檚 controversial 鈥渃hild protection鈥� laws, which prohibit the 鈥渄epiction or promotion鈥� of homosexuality or gender diversity to those under 18.

In response, the Hungarian police banned Budapest Pride, only for mayor Gergely Kar谩csony to declare the gathering a municipal event to bypass official authorisation.

鈥淐ome calmly and boldly to stand together for freedom, dignity and equal rights,鈥� he said at the time.

More than 200,000 people took to the streets in an impressive display of defiance, including more than 70 members of European parliament and the European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib.

“Selfish, petty, and despicable power”

Prosecutors said Kar谩csony had 鈥渙rganised and led a public gathering despite the police ban鈥�, suggesting the court impose a fine in a summary judgement without a trial.

Taking to social media after the charges were filed, Kar谩csony said he had “gone from being a proud suspect to a proud defendant鈥�.

鈥淚t seems that this is the price we pay in this country when we stand up for our own freedom and that of others.鈥�

Kar谩csony vowed to stand up in the face of “selfish, petty, and despicable power”, adding that 鈥渨hen people who want to live, to love, to be happy are betrayed by their own country, betrayed by their government, resistance is a duty.鈥�

Prior to the event in June, government officials warned that Pride organisers could face up to a year in prison, and threatened would-be attendees with facial recognition software to identify and fine them up to 鈧�500. Police announced in July that they would not be charging any of the 200,000 protesters.

Co-Chair of the European Green party, Vula Tsets, said on Wednesday that the issue was about more than just 17c起草社区IA+ rights.

鈥淭his is not just about Pride; it is a test of whether the EU will stand for democracy,” she said.

Believed to be the first of its kind in recent EU history, the legislation also enshrines the constitutional recognition of only two sexes, in a move that closely mirrors Trump鈥檚聽executive order聽recognising two genders, assigned at birth and unchanging.

D谩nel D枚brentey, a lawyer with the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, said at the time that the amendment carried a 鈥渃lear message鈥� for trans and gender diverse people.

鈥淚t is definitely and purely and strictly about humiliating people and excluding them, not just from the national community, but even from the community of human beings,鈥� he聽.