Post Tagged with: "Refugee Crisis"

The screen capture of the print version of my piece in Wednesday's Népszava.

Hungary’s responsibility – An open letter to Deputy State Secretary Csaba Latorcai

This morning, Népszava–one of Hungary’s daily newspapers–published an op-ed from me, which effectively serves as an open letter addressed to Csaba Latorcai. A couple of weeks ago, here in Ottawa, I met with Hungary’s Deputy State Secretary for Priority Social Affairs, whose works in the Prime Minister’s Office focuses on the Jewish minority, as well as other religious/cultural communities. Deputy […]

by · December 16, 2015 · Politics
Pastor David Crosby

The “Christian” use of razor wire in Hungary against refugees

Razor wire is now stretched along a 110-mile Hungarian border. The razor wire protects the Christian culture of Hungary from the Muslims, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Jesus is the Christ from whom the word “Christian” is derived. I doubt that Jesus himself would applaud Mr. Orbán’s use of the word “Christian” to defend his treatment of these desperately […]

by · November 29, 2015 · Politics
Orbán is isolated, US Vice President Biden ignores him

Orbán is isolated, US Vice President Biden ignores him

On November 18, 2015, the US Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration, Anne Richard, met Hungarian Ambassador Réka Szemerkényi at the State Department in Washington DC. There was no Hungarian press coverage, Ms. Szemerkényi didn’t brag about a “turning point” in US-Hungarian relations, she remained quiet. I have a feeling that Ms. Richard had some unkind words about Hungary’s […]

by · November 28, 2015 · Politics
Sándor Szakály, the director of the Orbán government's Veritas Institute.

Hungarian government historian to give racist talk in Toronto

Hungary’s Orbán government is organizing a talk in Toronto for the local Hungarian community, in which Sándor Szakály, a historian closely tied to the far-right, but currently tasked with leading the state-funded Veritas Institute, will give a talk entitled: “Dutiful irresponsibility: How long will Europe be able to withstand, and for how long will there still be a Europe?” The […]

by · November 26, 2015 · Politics
The Záhony border crossing between Hungary and Ukraine. This represents one of the EU's external borders, which Hungarian border security patrols and protects and where you will come into contact with Hungarian border guards and customs officials. Photo: MTI.

The death of Schengen is not what Viktor Orbán wants…

This has been an annus horribilis for the European Union. In the spring and summer, the euro looked set to crumble, as Greece devolved into political turmoil, teetering on the brink of Grexit and as deep divisions within the eurozone emerged about how to deal with the debt crisis and whether to even salvage the unity of the euro. As often […]

by · November 21, 2015 · Politics
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with school children in the town of Szombathely. Photo: Facebook.

Viktor Orbán on defending Europeans and “the invasion of the outsiders”

We rarely publish verbatim long texts produced by Hungary’s current government, but to understand how Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is using the terrorist attacks in France to position himself as the defender of Europe, the “common sense” voice of “the people,” standing up to detached liberal elites who still believe in diverse societies and inclusion, we must read him. We […]

by · November 18, 2015 · Politics
A photo posted on Socialist MP Márta Demeter's Facebook page from the vigil held in front of the French Institute in Budapest.

Budapest residents light candles for victims of Paris attack

Hundreds of people gathered Saturday night at the steps of the Institut français de Budapest to light votive candles in memory of the 129 people killed on November 13th, when eight terrorists launched coordinated attacks in Paris. The French Institute, overlooking the Danube, was founded by France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to promote the French language and culture in Hungary, and […]

by · November 15, 2015 · Politics
Mari Törőcsik

Actress Mari Törőcsik on racism and refugees

One of Hungary’s most celebrated actresses, Mari Törőcsik, is turning 80 this month. When she was approached by the conservative Mandiner website for an interview, she indicated that speaking about contemporary politics was not something with which she felt comfortable. “One side kicks me, while the other lifts me up onto a pedestal–that’s not something that I need,” said Ms. […]

by · November 2, 2015 · Culture
Helen Olsen. Photo: Chris Caldwell / The Spectrum.

One-time Hungarian refugee builds on life of experience

The Spectrum, a Utah-based news site, has granted the HFP permission to republish an insightful and moving story about a Hungarian who fled her homeland in 1956 and settled in the United States. Her story, recorded by Kevin Jenkins, is very candid and is especially relevant in light of the refugee drama still unfolding in Europe. * As millions of […]

by · October 26, 2015 · Focus
Zsolt Bayer is one of the most vile, openly racist publicists in Hungary. And he is not associated with Jobbik. Mr. Bayer is not only a founder of the ruling Fidesz party, but also a close friend of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Mandiner.hu and Zsolt Bayer’s genocidal hate speech

I have written about Zsolt Bayer before in the HFP. Our readers may recall that he is a co-founder of the ruling Fidesz party and a prominent pro-Orbán publicist who recently asserted that the Syrian refugee crisis was a manufactured racial war, launched by “invisible hands,” in order to exterminate white people. I did not think that Mr. Bayer could […]

by · October 8, 2015 · Focus