HUNGARY: Leader Of Far-Right Fascist Party Outed As Secretly Jewish

This scenario sounds all-too familiar, doesn't it?

As a rising star in Hungary's far-right Jobbik Party, Csanad Szegedi was notorious for his incendiary comments on Jews: He accused them of "buying up" the country, railed about the "Jewishness" of the political elite and claimed Jews were desecrating national symbols. Then came a revelation that knocked him off his perch as ultra-nationalist standard-bearer: Szegedi himself is a Jew. Following weeks of Internet rumors, Szegedi acknowledged in June that his grandparents on his mother's side were Jews — making him one too under Jewish law, even though he doesn't practice the faith. His grandmother was an Auschwitz survivor and his grandfather a veteran of forced labor camps. Since then, the 30-year-old has become a pariah in Jobbik and his political career is on the brink of collapse.

Szegedi first became known as the leader of the neo-Nazi Hungarian Guard, a group which has since been outlawed. He was recorded offering a bribe and a job to a man who threatened to out his Jewish heritage. Szegedi is one of three Jobbik Party members with seats in the European Parliament. (Tipped by JMG reader Ashish)

HUNGARY: Gay Marriage Ban In Effect

Hungary's new national constitution and its ban on same-sex marriage is now in effect.

The document specifically restricts marriage to straight couples and appears to ban abortion by saying that foetuses will be protected from conception onwards. It does not protect citizens from discrimination on the grounds of age or sexual orientation, and Amnesty International said last year it would not satisfy international human rights laws. Viktor Orban, leader of the ruling Fidesz party, which came to power with two-thirds majority in the parliament last year, has been dubbed “Viktator” for his leadership style by the crowds who are now protesting the constitution in Budapest. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of the capital to voice their opposition to the new state framework.

Hungary also bans gay couples from adopting, but does allow open service in the military. As noted in the clip below, Sec. Hillary Clinton has written a letter to the Hungarian government objecting to the "anti-democracy" aspects of the new constitution.

Hungary Bans Gay Marriage

Back in December we learned that Hungary had approved a draft version of a new constitution that outlaws same-sex marriage. Today lawmakers there officially adopted that constitution. The 2009 law granting same-sex couples some rights after registering their partnerships remains in effect.

International Viewpoint predicts that the EU will do little about Hungary's newly official ban.

The European commission scarcely dares to take action when member states invoke religious freedom to disregard EU-fundamental rights. For example, in the case of Lithuania, where a law was passed that bans the “promotion of homosexuality," effectively rendering gay people invisible. The controversial Hungarian media law also includes a paragraph of this type, which states that the media must show respect for marriage and the institution of family, whereby the government aims to constitutionally enshrine the definition of marriage as being between a man and woman. The new Hungarian media supervisor has already qualified public expressions of homosexuality as in conflict with these standards, and therefore potentially punishable under the new law. Discrimination of this type is clearly in conflict with the ban on discrimination in the EU treaties.

RELATED: Hungary assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the EU in January.

Eurovision 2011: Hungary's Kati Wolf

Finally. This is what I'm talking about it.

Hungary Bans Gay Marriage

Hungary has adopted a new constitution which stipulates that marriage is for heterosexuals only.

Human life will be protected from conception and marriage will be defined as heterosexual co-existence in the new Constitution, according to the specimen The Principles of Regulating the Constitution of Hungary. Hungary would continue to be a republic and a democracy governed by the rule of law. The Royal Crown will be included in the preface to the Constitution and will be emblazoned on the state flag, the concept adds.

Hungary joined the EU in 2004. In 2009 Hungary established registered partnerships for same-sex couples.

HUNGARY: "Heterosexual Pride" Parade Marches Through Budapest

Calling it a "heterosexual pride parade," about 100 skinheads and their supporters marched through Budapest this weekend to highlight their demand that the local government deny homosexuals the right to use the city's public spaces.

The participants addressed a petition to two MPs of the radical nationalist Jobbik party, Dora Duro and Elod Novak, who attended the march, which asks for a modification of Hungary's law of assembly to prevent such [gay] gatherings. The MPs assured the marchers of their support. This year the Gay Pride Parade was held on July 10 along Budapest's Andrassy Boulevard on a shortened route compared to earlier years and amid heavy police protection. The event, organised each year since 1997, has been disrupted by violent anti-gay radicals in each of the past three years.

More photos and videos are here.

Installed By The Machine, Part 2

Budapest Pride Incident-Free Under Heavy Protection From Hungarian Riot Police

Last year Budapest Pride was marred by violence and arrests as neo-Nazis pelted marchers with stones and eggs and threw fire bombs at police. Yesterday's parade went off much better, as riot police were fully prepared and did not allow the hundreds of anti-gay protesters anywhere near the parade route.

Rowdy protestors did their best to interrupt a gay pride parade through central Budapest on Saturday, but were prevented by a massive coordinated operation by riot police. However, there were sporadic outbreaks of unrest around the event, with some of the several hundred demonstrators pelting police with stones and burning the rainbow-flag used by the parade organizers. Riot police were able to quickly disperse the several hundred demonstrators through sheer force of numbers and the occasional volley of tear gas. During one fracas, an English man was punched after getting into a row with a group of some 20 anti-gay protestors, police told the local news agency MTI. Riot police broke up the altercation, and the man was taken away for medical attention. A sixty-year-old man among the anti-gay demonstrators was knocked down as the crowd was pushed back by riot police, and had to be taken by stretcher to an ambulance. About 2,000 participants, an international mix of activists and sympathizers, including former prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany and his wife, gathered in the early afternoon on Budapest's landmark Heroes Square' before marching along a broad avenue into central Budapest.

Several days ago, staffers from 14 foreign embassies (including the United States and Canada) were hosted by the British for an afternoon tea party in support of Budapest Pride. All had signed onto a letter encouraging the Hungarian government to properly protect the marchers.

Whoopi Goldberg Sends A Message To Hungarian Gays

Whoopi Goldberg sends a message to the people of Hungary, saluting all the gay Pride marchers and urging the government and citizens to behave respectfully and peacefully towards the participants. Just fantastic! And today the Budapest police gave their official permission for the parade.

Budapest police officially announced on Monday that they were registering this coming Saturday's Gay Pride parade, and warned residents to expect significant road closures during the event. Police can ban events or register them, but they do not grant permits. The parade is a manifestation of the right to assembly of Hungarian citizens, said a police statement. "All citizens in Hungary have the right to demonstrate and to express their opinions," it added. Last Friday, Ilona Ekes, a member of the main opposition Fidesz Party called on the police to ban the gathering, saying it could create fear and revulsion in people and endanger the development of minors. And she called for a social and professional dialogue on homosexuality, which she called a "mental injury."

Hungary Tries Again On Domestic Partners

Months after a court struck down a domestic partners act because it was too similar to marriage, which their constitution holds is only for a man and a woman, the Hungarian government is trying again.

The Hungarian Government has approved a new bill on registered partnerships. It replaces a previous law on registered partnership that was struck down by the Constitutional Court in December, just weeks before its was due to come into force. The new bill introduces the institution of registered partnership only for same sex couples and a scheme of domestic partnership registration for both same sex and different sex couples. Support for the bill in the Parliament is still an open question. In December the Hungarian Constitutional Court ruled that the law on registered partnership adopted by the Hungarian Parliament a year earlier was unconstitutional.

The new bill specifically excludes the right for same-sex couples to take their partner's name or to adopt children.

Hungarian Court: Gay Bashing Is Freedom Of Speech

Outrageous:

Four of more than a dozen people arrested for throwing eggs at a gay pride march in Budapest on Saturday received minor fines on Wednesday, while charges against three others were dismissed and charges against the others were dropped. Those fined were convicted only because they refused to obey a police order to disperse.

In delivering the verdicts in the case the court ruled that simply throwing eggs at a group you disagree with is simply an exercise in free speech Hungarian media reported Wednesday. The court noted that police on the scene of the parade at first did not want to file charges against the protestors but were ordered to do so by senior officers.

Dozens of protesters from a right wing Hungarian nationalist group clashed with marchers and police on Saturday. Marchers were pelted with eggs, bottles and rocks and set fire to a police van. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters at several points along a boulevard in downtown Budapest.

Anybody still feel like visiting Hungary?

EU: Gays Not Safe In Hungary

Although local Pride organizers praised the Budapest police for their handling of last weekend's violent anti-gay demonstration, the European Parliament is condemning the Hungarian government for not adequately ensuring the safety of LGBT citizens.

The European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights has accused the Hungarian government of being unable to guarantee the safety of their citizens and visitors to the country. The violent scenes at a Pride march in Budapest on Saturday showed the country's "inability to deal with extremists", said Michael Cashman, President of the Intergroup. "This must be referred to the European Commission and Commission's President."

A Hungarian MEP, who is a Vice-President of the Intergroup, criticised the police. "(They) failed to protect citizens exercising their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly, probably due to inadequate resources," said Sirpa Pietikäinen. "I will demand an explanation from the Hungarian government and I will raise this issue with the European Commission."

In a statement issued the day after the Pride march, Hungarian gay rights group the Patent Association said: "The police protected the march against serious physical attacks in an exemplary manner." Last month police tried to cancel this year's Pride march only to reverse their decision within twenty-four hours following international condemnation.

According to some watchdogs of Eastern Europe's neo-Nazis, the Budapest Pride incident has emboldened anti-gay sentiment and fears are being raised that more Pride-related violence is to come.

Violence, Arrests At Budapest Pride

Neo-Nazis disrupted the Budapest Pride parade this weekend, pelting marchers with stones and eggs and hurling fire bombs at police. Police were forced to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Right-wing extremists hurled stones and eggs at a Gay Pride procession in the Hungarian capital on Saturday before clashing with police called in to protect the marchers. Police arrested more than 40 of the assailants, who threw firebombs at the officers and set alight a police minibus. At least five persons were injured, two of them policemen.

A jazz concert due to be held at the end of the rally was cancelled for security reasons. Politician Gabor Horn, a leading member of the liberal Association of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), said he was spat upon, slapped and doused with beer by neo-Nazis.

It was the worst violence during the 12 years the Gay Pride parade has taken place in Budapest.

Hundreds of of extremists gathered along the route taken by the 1,500 marchers to give vent to their anger at gays and lesbians. In the days leading up to the parade, calls were made on Neo-Nazi internet forums for violence to be used against the "unnatural perverts."

No marchers were injured. Parade organizers had prepared them for the protests by advising that they carry umbrellas or wear helmets to protect themselves from hurled objects.

"There was one street where literally a shower of eggs and stones was poured on us," Gábor Kuszing of Hungarian human rights group Patent Association said. "I was lucky to have a placard in my hand, and others used umbrellas, but most people just came in their regular clothes." Organisers advised participants to carry large umbrellas or wear helmets.

"This is outrageous and shameful that some 20 years after the change of regime, this is what we have … such intolerance," Socialist European Parliament member Katalin Levai told Reuters after a stone smashed the window of a police car she was being escorted in.

"It was great to see the police protecting us, after the police chief tried to ban the march earlier," Mr Kuszing commented. "The fact that the police were protecting us is an important message to the neo-Nazi criminals and the public at large."

Quite the contrast to the post below, isn't it? Count. Your. Blessings.

Sauna Bombed In Budapest

Hungarian nationalists fire-bombed a Budapest bathhouse yesterday as that city readied for this weekend's gay pride events.

A gay establishment in the Hungarian capital has been targeted, the second attack in a week. Four petrol bombs were thrown into sauna called Magnum in the early hours of yesterday morning. One man was slightly injured by fumes. The bombers had called the sauna before their attack and warned people to evacuate. A similar phone warning was used last week when a gay club was attacked with a petrol bomb. The sauna had kept several extinguishers at hand since last week’s attack and so the fire was promptly extinguished.

The gay community in the city is fearful that more violence could occur during this week's 13th LGBT Film and Cultural Festival and at the Pride march on Saturday. "We are doubtful if the police are really protecting the gay establishments as they promised," said Gábor Kuszing of gay rights group Patent Association. "Police were present around the cinema housing the Festival, however they left after the politicians opening the Festival finished with their speeches," he added.

Yesterday's attack comes after repeated threats against the LGBT festival and the Pride march from right-wing groups during the last few weeks. Activists said it could be the work of a group who use a website called kuruc.info. Described as "an extremist nationalist hate site targeted against gay people, liberals, Jewish people," the phone numbers and other details about gay activists are regularly posted on the site. "This site, although Hungarian, is hosted in a US server, so there is nothing we can do to stop them," a Hungarian activist from Budapest told PinkNews.co.uk.

The sauna's website (NSFW) appears to make no mention of the attack. Anybody speak Hungarian?

Gay-Bashing Pic Wins 2007 World Press Photo Award

A photo of Hungarian gay-bashing victims has won second place in the World Press Photo Of The Year 2007 Awards. The couple was photographed in Budapest by Zsolt Szigetváry as they awaited medical attention. First prize went to a photo of an American serviceman resting in his bunker in Afghanistan. Here's a gallery of other winners.

(Via - Jockohomo.)