Viktor Orbán and his responsibility for rising antisemitism in Hungary

NOTE: This article was published on 31 August 2016Quite a political storm is brewing in Hungary, after Ronald S. Lauder of the World Jewish Congress named Hungary Europe’s most antisemitic country, the Hungarian Free Press reported on 19 July 2016.  Specifically, Mr. Lauder said the following: “The worst offender is Hungary. Because they now have a neo-Nazi…

NOTE: This article was published on 31 August 2016

Quite a political storm is brewing in Hungary, after Ronald S. Lauder of the World Jewish Congress named Hungary Europe’s most antisemitic country, the Hungarian Free Press reported on 19 July 2016. 

Specifically, Mr. Lauder said the following: “The worst offender is Hungary. Because they now have a neo-Nazi party called Jobbik. They had started to put up statues of Admiral Horthy, who was a Nazi.” András Heisler, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary (MAZSIHISZ), came to the Orbán government’s defence in a statement. He wrote to Mr. Lauder, suggesting that he may have been the victim of “journalistic manipulation or incorrect information from advisers,” as there is “constructive cooperation between the Hungarian government and Jewish organizations.” But many take issue with this. Eszter Garai-Édler, a civil rights activist, wrote to me this morning emphasizing that the Orbán regime is the only government in the EU, which has overtly and wholeheartedly embraced undiluted racism. Ms. Garai-Édler is sharing with our readers the full text of a talk she gave a few years ago at the 4th International Conference of the Global Forum for  Combating Anti-Semitism, in Jerusalem, on Mr. Orbán’s role in rising antisemitism. Since then, Mr. Orbán’s rhetoric towards Arabs and Muslims has changed markedly, but his government’s cynical and self-serving use of xenophobia to scapegoat specific communities has not.

Viktor Orbán and his old friend, the leading antisemitic journalist Zsolt Bayer, having fun
Viktor Orbán and his old friend, the leading antisemitic journalist Zsolt Bayer, having fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read the rest of the article here.


Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

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Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

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Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

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