Thousands of Hungarians protest against Pride ban law
Thousands of people took to the streets in Budapest on Tuesday night to protest against a recently adopted bill aimed at banning the annual Pride march.
The legislation is the latest in a series of measures under Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government, which critics say curtail the rights of the EU country's LGBTQ community.
The adopted bill aims to ban the Pride march on the basis that it infringes on Hungary's criticised "child protection" law, enabling authorities to fine those who attend or organise such an event, and use facial recognition tools to identify potential offenders.
Waving Hungarian and rainbow flags and holding up signs that read "Enough of the lies" and "Down with Orban! We want democracy", more than 10,000 people gathered in central Budapest according to an AFP photographer.
"We're standing up for the freedom of assembly," said 26-year-old psychologist Emese, who declined to give her surname.
Another protester, 60-year-old pastry chef Agica Tothne, told AFP that she also plans to join the upcoming demonstrations since "this corrupt system needs to fall, and people are starting to wake up".
Independent lawmaker Akos Hadhazy and organiser said the protests "won't stop until the law is repealed", slamming what he called a "techno-fascist law" that was modelled after similar ones in China and Russia.
Dorottya Redai of the Labrisz lesbian organisation spoke at Tuesday's rally, saying that the bill goes beyond restricting the "fundamental right to peaceful assembly".
The gender studies researcher said it is "clearly meant to erase LGBTQ people from public life".
The law against Budapest Pride has already sparked protests in Hungary.
When parliament passed the legislation in mid-March, demonstrators blocked a Budapest bridge for more than three hours.
March organisers have said they plan to go ahead with the 30th Budapest Pride on June 28.
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