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The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Human rights groups challenge Hungary's anti-Pride law in court
FILE PHOTO: People attend the Budapest Pride march in Budapest, Hungary, July 23, 2022. REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo/File Photo BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Five human rights groups including Amnesty International challenged in court Hungary's legislation that created a legal basis for police to ban Pride marches by the LGBTQ community, the groups said in a statement on Friday. Hungary's parliament, where the ruling Fidesz party has a big majority, passed legislation in March that creates a legal basis to ban LGBTQ marches and lets police use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. It also approved constitutional changes in April stipulating that Hungary recognises only two sexes, male and female. Activists say the measures amount to a de-facto ban on Pride marches. Prime Minister Viktor Orban - whose ruling party has a Christian conservative agenda - has said organisers "should not even bother" organising Pride in Budapest this year. Orban, who has been in power since 2010, faces elections in 2026 where a new opposition party is mounting a serious challenge to his rule. Five groups including Amnesty and leading LGBTQ rights groups Hatter Tarsasag and the group that organises Pride, said in their statement that the march planned for June 28 will go ahead in Budapest irrespective of the court ruling, which is expected next week. "Organisers are preparing for the biggest Pride march Hungary has ever had," their statement said. Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The groups launched the legal challenge on Thursday after police banned a smaller march planned for June 1. They said when police banned the event, it cited the new legislation, which says assemblies that are considered harmful to children cannot be held, and that protecting children would supersede the right to assemble. "Police did not provide evidence on why the (June 1) march or the Pride march that is considered similar could amount to a violation of children's rights," the statement said. On Tuesday, seventeen European Union countries accused Hungary of contravening fundamental EU values by passing laws that target LGBTQ+ people, as tensions deepen between Budapest and a majority of member states. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
17 EU countries sound alarm over Hungarian LGBTQ+ laws
FILE PHOTO: People attend the Budapest Pride march in Budapest, Hungary, July 23, 2022. REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Seventeen European Union countries accused Hungary on Tuesday of contravening fundamental EU values by passing laws that target LGBTQ+ people, as tensions deepen between Budapest and a majority of member states. Hungary's parliament passed legislation in March that creates a legal basis to ban Pride marches there and lets police use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. It also approved constitutional changes in April stipulating that Hungary recognises only two sexes, male and female. "We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights," the governments of the 17 countries said in a joint statement. They called on Hungary to revise the measures and asked the European Commission to make full use of its powers if Budapest does not do so. The Commission can take legal action against member states if it believes they are violating EU law. The statement was backed by Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. The declaration came ahead of a hearing on Tuesday in a long-running process where EU ministers examine concerns that Hungary is at risk of breaching core EU values. The process could in theory lead to Hungary being stripped of its right to vote on EU decisions. But diplomats say there is not sufficient support among the 27 EU member states to take that step. 'MORE NUANCED VIEW' Arriving at the meeting, Hungary's Minister for European Union Affairs Janos Boka said: "There is no such thing in Hungary as a Pride ban". "I hope that after these discussions my colleagues around the table will walk out with a more nuanced view on the Hungarian legislation," he said. But activists say the measures amount to a de-facto ban. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Pride organisers "should not even bother" this year, while his chief of staff Gergely Gulyas has said Hungary "does not have to tolerate Pride marching through downtown Budapest". Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has repeatedly clashed with the EU and its member countries over democratic standards, minority rights and foreign policy. Critics have accused Orban of undermining the rule of law, which the Hungarian government denies. His ruling Fidesz party has said the Pride march could be considered harmful to children and that protecting them would supersede the right to assemble. European Commissioner Michael McGrath, who oversees democracy, justice and rule of law issues, said on Tuesday there were serious concerns about the situation in Hungary. "Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right," he told reporters. "It is not a threat to children. It's not a threat to anyone, and it must be protected and upheld at all times, and so the Commission is examining all of its options," he said. (Reporting by Lili Bayer and Andrew Gray in Brussels and Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves in Budapest; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Gareth Jones)
The Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
EU countries set to express concern about Hungary legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people, draft shows
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the Hungarian parliament as it votes on a bill that would ban the Pride march by LGBTQ communities and impose fines on organizers and people attending the event in Budapest, Hungary, March 18, 2025. REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) -More than a dozen European countries are expected to issue a declaration saying they are "deeply concerned" about Hungarian legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people, according to a draft seen by Reuters on Monday. Hungary's parliament passed legislation in March to ban the annual Pride march there and allow police to use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. It also approved changes in April which enshrine in the constitution that Hungary recognises only two sexes, male and female. "We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights," the signatories, which include countries such as the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden, wrote. A Hungarian spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The declaration comes ahead of a regular hearing scheduled for Tuesday where European Union ministers will discuss the risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the bloc's values. The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has repeatedly clashed with the EU and its member countries over democratic standards, minority rights and foreign policy. Critics have accused Orban of undermining rule of law principles, a charge the Hungarian government has rejected. The ruling Fidesz party has said that the Pride march could be considered as harmful to children and protecting them would supersede the right to assemble. In the draft declaration, signatories called on Hungary to revise the measures. They also asked the European Commission "to expeditiously make full use of the rule of law toolbox at its disposal in case these measures are not revised accordingly". (Reporting by Lili Bayer; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
EU countries set to express concern about Hungary legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people, draft shows
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the Hungarian parliament as it votes on a bill that would ban the Pride march by LGBTQ+ communities and impose fines on organizers and people attending the event in Budapest, Hungary, March 18, 2025. REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo BRUSSELS - More than a dozen European countries are expected to issue a declaration saying they are "deeply concerned" about Hungarian legislation targeting LGBTQ+ people, according to a draft seen by Reuters on Monday. Hungary's parliament passed legislation in March to ban the annual Pride march there and allow police to use facial recognition cameras to identify people who attend. It also approved changes in April which enshrine in the constitution that Hungary recognises only two sexes, male and female. "We are highly alarmed by these developments which run contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights," the signatories, which include countries such as the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden, wrote. A Hungarian spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The declaration comes ahead of a regular hearing scheduled for Tuesday where European Union ministers will discuss the risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the bloc's values. The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has repeatedly clashed with the EU and its member countries over democratic standards, minority rights and foreign policy. Critics have accused Orban of undermining rule of law principles, a charge the Hungarian government has rejected. The ruling Fidesz party has said that the Pride march could be considered as harmful to children and protecting them would supersede the right to assemble. In the draft declaration, signatories called on Hungary to revise the measures. They also asked the European Commission "to expeditiously make full use of the rule of law toolbox at its disposal in case these measures are not revised accordingly". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Anti-homophobia initiative turns sour in French football with player no-show, slur
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Europa League - Final - Sevilla v AS Roma - Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary - May 31, 2023 AS Roma's Nemanja Matic reacts REUTERS/Marton Monus/File Photo PARIS (Reuters) -What was meant to be a weekend of solidarity against homophobia in Ligue 1 descended into controversy and embarrassment for French football, as players refused to wear campaign symbols, one striker boycotted his team's match, and a homophobic slur was heard in a stadium tunnel. Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Nemanja Matic and Le Havre's Ahmed Hassan concealed the French league's anti-homophobia insignia during Saturday's fixtures. Nantes forward Mostafa Mohamed withdrew from his side's match against Montpellier, citing personal convictions — the third time the Egyptian international has opted out of the initiative. Meanwhile, Lens defender Jonathan Gradit was heard directing a homophobic insult at halftime in the tunnel during their game against Monaco. The string of incidents prompted France's new sports minister, Marie Barsacq, to issue a pointed statement on Sunday, calling for decisive action. "Football has a massive platform, and the (French Football) Federation is determined to put this issue on the clubs' and supporters' agenda," Barsacq said. "Homophobic insults and behaviour are no longer acceptable. Society has evolved, and the language in football must change with it. There's a full range of sanctions available, and they must be applied." Ligue 1 had planned for players to wear rainbow-coloured symbols on shirts or armbands and display messages in stadiums as part of its annual awareness drive. Yet participation has been uneven in recent years, with some players citing personal or religious reasons for opting out. Players speaking up is a rare occasion, although former French international Antoine Griezmann said six years ago: "If a gay player wants to come out, he might not have all the France players with him, but he will have me." Nice full back Jonathan Clauss said last week he was pessimistic about the fight against homophobia. "I think it's a never-ending fight, because there will never be 100% of people who agree (with the fight against homophobia). And the very fact that there's a debate is a problem," he said. (Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
