Hungary: Racism and fascism
01 January 1991
Hungary: Racism and fascism
artdoc July=1994
Appeal to halt rising anti-Semitism
To coincide with the 50th anniversary of the liberation of
Budapest's Jewish community, the Magyar Hirlap published an
appeal from Jewish community leaders calling for an end to
mounting anti-Semitic attacks. Prior to the plea, there had been
bomb scares at Budapest's main synagogue and numerous other
locations and a spate of desecrations of Jewish cemeteries. A
Jewish museum in Budapest, one of the richest repositories of
eastern European Judicae, was robbed, resulting in the loss of
80 per cent of its collection. Jewish leaders have also
protested at the manner in which the 50th anniversary is being
commemorated, saying that the government is distorting history
by pegging the commemoration to the day the Germans invaded
Hungary which ignores the fact that the Hungarian government
itself began persecuting Jews as early as 1938 (East European
Markets 21.1.94, Jewish Chronicle 28.1.94).
Anti-Semitic materials seized
Police in Budapest broke up a neo-nazi rally seizing racist and
anti-Semitic materials produced by the World National Popular
Rule Party (VNP) which aims to rehabilitate the reputation of the
Hungarian nazi leader Ferenc Szalasi whose Arrow Cross was
involved in the murder of Hungarian Jews as the Second World War
ended. The VNP, which has approximately 1000 members, is legal
and its leader Albert Szabo, who has dual Hungarian-Australian
citizenship, denies it is anti-Semitic. `We are radical
nationalists and we love our country. This is a special Hungarian
nationalism' he said.The head of Hungary's intelligence services,
believes that the VNP are a threat and is particularly concerned
about their revisionist approach to the Holocaust. Security
sources say that VNP activists should be charged with engaging
in subversive activity and using illegal fascist symbols (Jewish
Chronicle 28.1.94, 18.2.94.).
Focus on skinhead groups
The Jewish Chronicle reports on the activities of Hungary's neo-
nazi and skinhead groups which are said to number approximately
5000 and are particularly active in Budapest, Debrecen and Eger,
known as the skinhead capital of Hungary. One of the main active
groups is the `Szalisi Guard' which although it has a small
membership has been involved in attacks on the Romany, Jews,
Arabs and anyone deemed foreign. The `Pannon Skinheads' and the
`Roy Group' are two other active groups while the publication `Uj
Rend' seems to be linked to the American nazi party and to
extreme nationalist expatriates in the Hungarian diaspora.
Apparently, many skinheads deny that they are nazis but describe
themselves as `radical nationalists' or `Hungaristas'.
Intelligence sources do not regard skinheads as a threat as long
as they continue to have no significant political base and are
not recognised by the mainstream political parties. But a former
teacher who was expelled because of her right-wing views from the
Hungarian Democratic Forum continues to defend skinheads in
parliament. Izabella Kilary, dubbed the `mother of the skinheads'
by the press, says: `The Hungarians don't have a problem with the
Jews, but the Jews have a problem with the Hungarians, and we are
accused of being anti-Semitic' (Jewish Chronicle 18.2.94).
IRR European Race Audit, Bulletin no 8, May 1994. Contact:Liz
Fekete, Insitute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X
9HS. Tel: 071 837 0041