The HCLU Is Dismayed at the FIDESZ-fraction's Cordon-removal Action

The HCLU human rights organization would like to call attention to the fact, that even though the current situation at Kossuth square is undoubtedly due to the cynical, unlawful and unacceptable attitude of the police, in a democratic state there is no place for unlawful action even if authorities are believed to be behaving in an unlawful way.

It is apparent, that if ordinary citizens and not members of parliament would have started today's actions, the police would have acted against them without further ado. The police were impotent against the members of parliament bearing the right to immunity, even though this right does not protect them in case of apparent law-breaking and being caught during the unlawful act.

As expected, the police could not step up against the 150 parliament members at the square, thus the message is clear: politicians can do anything, laws do not apply to them.

The HCLU's opinion is, that with respect to Hungary being a democratic nation, responding to unlawful and even human rights infringing conduct by the police can only be handled by lawful means. Friday's action by the members of FIDESZ do not qualify as such, therefore considering it an example for the public is an irresponsible and cynical attitude.

 

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.