The HCLU and the Hemp Seed Association have initiated proceedings in the matter of the thwart during the Million Marijuana March

On May 13th, 2007 five demonstrations, national legalization rallies organized by the Hemp Seed Association were held in Hungary as part of the International Million Marijuana March event-series.

The Million Marijuana March demonstrations went smoother than in the past years, except in Debrecen, where even though the police have acknowledged the rally, the local government, at the last moment, did not consent to the event-stage being set-up. The demonstration in Debrecen was finally thwarted by 6-8 people, equipped with shovels and sticks while the police passively stood by.
Szabolcs Juhász, who has notified of the demonstration, and the HCLU which is reprensenting him and the Hemp Seed Association ( Kendermag Egyesület ) have reported the trouble-makers and the police and have initiated proceedings against the unlawful and unconstitutional local government order.

The persons who have thwarted the event have violated the attendees right to assembly, which in itself is considered a crime, but their conduct has also given grounds to suspicion of breach of peace, physical abuse and truculency. On May 21st, 2007 the HCLU along with the organizers of the event have reported the trouble-makers to the police. The police officers, whom upon witnessing this crime did not fulfill their duty and did not accept the report at the scene were also reported for failure of prefectorial provision. On the same day, a complaint was issued to the Police Captain of Debrecen. The organizers have appealed the unlawful order of the local government and after the proceedings will sue the city for damages.

Share

Related articles

Human Rights Organizations Participate in Public Hearing on the Right to Protest in Brazil

On Tuesday, November 18th, a representative of the ACLU, CCLA, CELS, EIPR, HCLU, KHRC, LRC and Liberty, who are part of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO), made a presentation at a public hearing on the right to protest organized by Brazil’s Federal Attorney General’s Office and Sao Paulo State’s prosecutors’ office. The purpose of the hearing was to exchange data, information, criticism and proposals related to exercising that right.

A Court had to Overturn the Actions of the Police and the Counterterrorism Center

The Metropolitan Court of Budapest invalidated the decision of Budapest’s chief police officer that effectively banned an announced demonstration at the Prime Minister’s residence. The decision also found that closing the area, in order to prevent the demonstration, violated the law. The HCLU welcomes the decision by the court which stated that “limiting a peaceful demonstration because it is held in the presence of a high level official but otherwise serves as an expression of a political opinion is unnecessary in a democratic society.”

Budapest Pride March to the Parliament Given Green Light

The Metropolitan Court granted the appeal of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union and the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and overruled the prohibiting decision of the police. Thus the participants of the Budapest Pride can march from Heroes’ Square to Kossuth Square in 2011.