Post Tagged with: "Hungarian Roma"

Nemzeti Légió. Photo: MTI.

The National Legion — Far-right launches new paramilitary group in Hungary

The Mi Hazánk, or in English the Our Homeland far-right party announced the formation of a paramilitary group called the National Legion on 14 May 2019. This new group follows in the footsteps of the banned Magyar Gárda, once the paramilitary wing of the Jobbik party–back when it represented the hard right in Hungary. The Gárda, whose uniform closely resembled […]

by · May 15, 2019 · Politics
Photo: evangelikus.hu

Growing segregation of Roma children in Hungary

The problem of ethnic segregation in eastern Hungary’s schools appears to be deepening, despite past attempts on the part of some local administrations to ensure that Roma and non-Roma children studied together. For instance, as 444.hu reports, twelve years ago when the town of Nagyecsed (population: 6,327), in northeastern Hungary, tried to create mixed classrooms of both Roma and non-Roma students, […]

by · May 21, 2018 · Politics
Barna Pál Zsigmond

Fidesz candidate in Budapest warns of looming Muslim takeover

Barna Pál Zsigmond, the Fidesz candidate in the Budapest suburb of Újpest, fears that a Muslim takeover of Hungarian cities is on the horizon and asserted that the only way to stop it is to vote for Hungary’s ruling far-right party on 8th April. Speaking in a brief campaign video filmed in front of a church, and accompanied by somber […]

by · March 11, 2018 · Politics
Photo: Országos Roma Önkormányzat.

The growth of Hungary’s Roma minority — A fascinating new study

Hungary’s Roma minority has doubled in size over 25 years, according to a study conducted by researchers at Debrecen University for an academic journal entitled Területi Statisztika. What makes this study truly compelling is its unique methodology. Numbers compiled during the national census routinely underestimate the size of Hungary’s Roma community–the country’s largest minority group–as respondents often choose not to […]

by · February 23, 2018 · Culture
Balázs Nemes

Momentum’s Balázs Nemes — A reformed anti-Semitic homophobe?

Balázs Nemes is in eighth place on Momentum’s party list for national elections scheduled for 8th April. Momentum, of course, is the youthful movement that rationalizes its decision not to cooperate with any other opposition party by claiming that it is the only party not tainted by the past and focused intently on the future. Yet it turns out that […]

by · February 2, 2018 · Antisemitism
Mayor Bogdán and Consul General Ferenc Kunim (right) - friendly cooking in New York.

Hungary’s government media discredits mayor of Cserdi, László Bogdán

This is a case study of Hungary’s government sponsored “mob journalism.” Within weeks the celebrated mayor László Bogdán, Hungary’s successful Roma leader, has become an enemy of the people. David Kostelancik, the top U.S. diplomat in Hungary has raised concerns about disappearing independent media outlets. He has said that the remaining independent media “face pressure and intimidation.” “Government allies have […]

by · October 21, 2017 · Politics
László Bogdán

Locals assault and threaten to murder mayor who promised to welcome refugees in Roma village

A mob of locals kicked and spat at László Bogdán, the mayor of Cserdi, after the community leader suggested that he would welcome those refugee children who were not allowed to vacation in the village of Őcsény a few weeks ago. The news of Mr. Bogdán’s assault first appeared on the Facebook page of a television program called Privátszféra, which […]

by · October 19, 2017 · Politics
István Kamarás on the left.

Referendum proposed on autonomous Roma province in Hungary

In 2011, István Kamarás–formerly employed by the Christian Democratic People’s Party’s (KDNP) Barankovics Foundation–claimed refugee status in Canada, noting that he no longer wanted to “lend his name to the government’s actions that oppress Gypsies.” He added that he is “forced to emigrate from the country” and is “forced to accept in his heart the centuries-long hopelessness of the Gypsy […]

by · September 28, 2017 · Politics
Illustration: Tamás Péli

Hungarian Roma refugees in Canada — The lead case, its aftermath and the future (Parts 2 & 3)

According to Paul St. Clair[1]’s report dated 2007, about the Migration of Hungarian Roma to Canada (and back),             In comparison to about 5,000 Czech Roma, close to 25,000 Hungarian Roma made Refugee Claim in Canada, between 1997 and 2002.  In contrast to the Czech, the Hungarian Roma migration had a much more fluid form.  This was mainly because there […]

by · August 25, 2017 · Focus
Illustration by Tamás Pély

Hungarian Roma refugees in Canada — The Roma fiasco (Part 1)

I. I first met Mr. S in the early spring of 1997 at a Hungarian cultural event. The organizer of the event brought him to my attention, as a newly arrived Roma from Hungary, claiming refugee status in Canada. I asked him if he had a lawyer to represent him, and he said with a confidence that he was planning […]

by · August 24, 2017 · Focus