by Lena Odgaard (Denmark) and Lukasz Cundy (Poland)
Pictures by Martin Hanzel
Editor and Producer Dobriyana Tropankeva
The Hungarian Jews feel anti-Semitism is on the rise after the ultra right-wing Jobbik party was voted in to parliament. They find themselves targeted from the podium of the Parliament as well as in the supermarket and therefore don’t feel their right to protection by the government is fulfilled. According to the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary, incidences of verbal and physical abuse are increasing, but lawyers at the federation point out that not only Jews, but also the country’s Roma people, Muslims and homosexuals are subjected to racism and hate speech. Watch the video report by Lena Odgaard and Lukasz Cudny produced using only a mobile phone and RT Freevideo. The production was a part of the European Youth Press programme on Minority Voices in Budapest.
Script
Walking down the streets of Budapest thousands of Hungarians took part in the March of the Living on April 21 2013. The march commemorates the survivors of the Holocaust and it is held every year.
But this time it drew extra attention. An anti-Jewish demonstration by a group of extreme right bikers dubbed ”Give Gas” was planned the same day. Though the Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for the rally’s cancelation, members of the Jewish community criticize the ruling Fidesz-party for not taking a clear stance against hate speech and discrimination.
Members of the Jewish community say anti-Semitism is on the rise, especially after the right-wing party, Jobbik, was voted in to parliament. In December 2012 one of the party’s member of parliament, Marton Gyongyosi suggested making a list of all the Hungarian Jews arguing they pose a security threat to the country.
The remark came after the violent conflict between Israel and Gaza in November 2012. Gyongyosi later specified that his words were linked to criticism of the parliament and government’s strong support for Israel and was aimed at Jews with dual Hungarian-Israeli citizenship.
According to Tamas Deshi from the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary, if Jews are targeted from the podium of the Parliament it may encourage anti-Semitism in society
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There is about 100.000 Jews in Hungary. Most of them live in Budapest.
Lawyer at the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary, Gador Gyorgy, follows the cases of verbal and physical attacks on the Hungarian Jews. Based on conclusions of a recent study by the federation the number of cases is increasing and includes cursing in the streets and vandalism of Jewish sites. But he points out that not only Jews are targeted.
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Rabbi Tamas Vero, from the Frankel Synagogue in Budapest say that members of his congregation fear the racism will escalate. Vero said it had become the norm in Hungary that Jews hide their faith due to fear of verbal or physical attacks.
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In the building next to the synagogue, Vero regularly finds swastika signs. That doesn’t scare him but he hears especially families with children speak of leaving the country. After the killing of 6 from the Roma community in 2008 and 9, they are disappointed to see little action from the side of the government to protect its citizens – not least its minority groups. We tried to get a comment from the government and the Jobbik party, but they weren’t available for this report.
Sources
Verő Tamás Rabbi
Frankel Zsinagóga, Budapest
Web: www.frankel.hu
E-mail: verotomi@gmail.com
Tamás Dési
Associate to foreign Affairs – Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary
Phone: +36 1 413 5520
foreign@mazshihisz
www.mazsihisz.hu
Dr. Gador György, lawyer at Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary
+36 20 444 9528
dr.gadorgyorgy@mazsihisz.com
Other sources:
Agnes Heller, (Jewish) professor at the Eötvös-Loránt-Universität who was harrased with antisemitic stickers – helleragnes@gmail.com
Lutza (don’t have her first name, but she was the contact of Ruxa) – active with the Jewish community, lutzabutza@gmail.com
PTC / Tourists still flock to major Jewish monuments in Budapest but the Hungarian Jews fear the rise in anti/semetic sentiment in society. After seeing the physical attacks on other minorities such as the Roma they fear they are next. But while some cover their kippa with a baseball cap others pack their bags and go to Israel hoping for better opportunities.
