Today Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament condemned constant attacks and insults against the Jewish community in Hungary, following reports that a representative of the far-right Jobbik Party spat on a well-known Jewish historical monument in Budapest. He then sent an email with anti-Semitic messages to his friends, which spread through social media.
Hungarian S&D MEP István Ujhelyi said:
“This new attack adds to other anti-Semitic messages from this extreme-right group. If it is true that the Jobbik member of Parliament Gergely Kulcsár committed such a disgraceful act, he should not be worthy of sitting on the National Assembly and all political parties should clearly say so. He has become irrevocably unworthy of playing an active political role both on a domestic and indeed, European level.
“The ‘Shoes On The Danube Bank’ memorial honors the Jews who were killed by Fascist militiamen in Budapest in 1944-45. Those who shelter individuals defiling the victims of Holocaust are defilers themselves.
“At the same time, the governing Fidesz-party is visibly reluctant to speak up against all the reprehensible actions of Jobbik. We, European Social-Democrats must make our voice heard. We simply cannot remain silent.”
S&D vice-president Tanja Fajon said:
“It is absolutely unacceptable. The European Union was founded as the result of totalitarian brutality, to defend freedom and human dignity. There is no room for anti-Semitism or any other hate speech in the Union.
“Both the Hungarian government and the European Commission should ensure that the principles enshrined in the treaties and in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights are respected across Europe; even more so when we are talking about a politician who sits on the National Assembly.”
MEPs INVOLVED
UJHELYI István
[email protected]
+32(0)2 28 45649
+33(0)3 88 1 75649
FAJON Tanja
[email protected]
+32(0)2 28 45493
+33(0)3 88 1 75493
http://www.tanja-fajon.si/
S&D PRESS CONTACT
MARTIN DE LA TORRE, Victoria
[email protected]
+33 3 88 16 42 98
+32 2 284 30 81