News release – Fri 28 May 2021
- Protest outside Downing St began at 10am organised by Stand Up To Racism, Jewish Socialists’ Group & GR8, representing Gypsy, roma and 8 other ethnic groups, supported by MEND, CWU & ASLEF.
- (album link) – Photos from Downing St protest available to use with credit to ‘Stand Up To Racism’
- Additional photos and videos available from the @antiracismday twitter feed – also usable with credit to ‘Stand Up To Racism.’
The welcoming by Boris Johnson of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to Downing Street was condemned today by figures representing many of the groups targeted by his regime along with anti-racists, human rights campaigners and trade unionists.
A protest took place outside Downing Street organised by Stand Up To Racism, Jewish Socialists’ Group & GR8, representing Gypsy, roma and 8 other ethnic groups, and supported by MEND, PCS, CWU & ASLEF among others. Protestors included Hungarian activist Olivia Virag, who condemed the shutting down of democracy in Hungary through rule by decree, describing Orbàn as a ‘dictator’ who can now do ‘anything he wants.’
Others opposing the visit include Roma activist Virgil Bitu who described Orbàn as “One of the worst Antigypsyist politicians in Europe” and David Landau of the Jewish Socialists’ Group who condemned Orban for “fueling antisemitism.”
In 2018 Orbàn ran an antisemitic election campaign based on “defending Hungary” from becoming an “immigrant nation”. He said Hungary was under threat from what “George Soros’ workshops have planned for us”. He has described Muslim refugees and “invaders” and refused to obey a compensation order for Roma children harmed by segregation, stating the case was an attempt to “grab money and attack the majority”.
The visit comes as the British government has set out anti-refugee legislation condemned by human rights organisations as violating the UN convention on refugees, and follows a report on Conservative Islamophobia. MEND CEO Azhar Qayum drew attention to Conservative promises to clamp down on Islamophobia in their party, and said the visit of Orban “highlights the lack of commitment our Government has to upholding any such ‘zero tolerance approach’ to Islamophobia.”
Campaigners have warned that the visit of Orbán is reflective of the British Government’s turn towards racist populism and the scapegoating of communities to consolidate political power.
Sandor Szöke, Roma civil rights campaigner from Hungary said:
“Present-time Hungary under Orban’s rule is not a real parliamentary republic, not a real state of law anymore. Above all -it is a racist regime. That is why we consider his invitation to Downing Street a political mistake and a provocation, and we strongly condemn it.
“The so called “Stop Soros “campaign justifying the LEXNGO 2018 legislation featured some not-so-hidden anti-Semitic undertones using antisemitic tropes targeted against Hungarian-American stock market billionaire George Soros, a Holocaust survivor, who has since become a divisive figure in Hungary for his philanthropic work through the Open Society.
“Orbán has attempted to rewrite history. He has praised Miklos Horthy for reconquering lost territories. Several towns have erected statues or placed plaques on buildings in the wartime leader’s honour. Busts of Horthy still stand across the country, despite his record of virulent anti-Semitism. According to Shapiro, Miklos Horthy wrote “with pride to his Prime Minister in 1940, ‘I have been an anti-Semite my whole life.
“Victor Orban’s government has repeatedly stereotyped the Roma minority who has lived in Hungary for roughly 600 years as “alien, work-shy and criminal” In recent statements he has openly defended racially segregated education and attempted to stop the court-mandated payment of compensation to former pupils in the village of Gyöngyöspata who had been subjected to segregated and substandard education.
“Victor Orban’s government stereotyped refugees from Syria and Afghanistan as terrorists, criminals, rapists and carriers of deadly diseases. ‘We don’t see these people as Muslim refugees. We see them as Muslim invaders’ he told German tabloid Bild.”
Azhar Qayum, Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) CEO said:
‘In recent days the Conservative party said it would take ‘a zero tolerance approach to discrimination of any kind’ in reference to the recent Singh inquiry into Islamophobia. Clearly these were empty words as Orban’s visit highlights the lack of commitment our Government has to upholding any such ‘zero tolerance approach’ to Islamophobia.
David Landau, Jewish Socialists’ Group said:
“Orbán is a far-right populist who stays in power by scapegoating sections of society. He stirs up hatred against Roma people, against migrants and refugees, and fuels antisemitism.
“When Johnson was Tory Foreign Minister, he warmly welcomed Orbán’s re-election. Later that year, Tory MEPs lined up with the far right to try to defend Orbán from EU censure. Today the Tories are in a bloc with Fidesz in the Council of Europe.
“Here in Britain the Tories continue to build a hostile environment for migrants and stir up hatred against them, with a new tranche of anti-migrant and refugee legislation on its way. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill increases the powers of the state against the people.
The Jewish Socialists’ Group condemns this meeting and calls on anti-racists, Jewish, Muslim, GRT organisations and the Labour Party to do so too.“
Virgil Bitu, GR8, representing Gypsy, roma and 8 other ethnic groups, said:Viktor Orbán is one of the worst Antigypsyist politicians in Europe. I home he didn’t come here to teach Boris Johnson how to better implement Antigypsy policies.
Labour MP Diane Abbott said, “
“Boris Johnson should not be meeting Viktor Orban at all. Bigotry, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia and mistreatment of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities should not be rewarded but condemned. Authoritarians and reactionary nationalists always need scapegoats to cover for their own failings, and are desperate to be seen as international statesmen. That is what is going on here.”
Sabby Dhalu, Stand Up To Racism Co-Convenor said:
Victor Orbán rose to power through an antisemitic campaign against George Soros, has built a racist power base through scapegoating Muslim refugees and the Roma community, and is now a virtual dictator after enabling himself to rule by decree.
It is an outrage that Orbán is being welcomed to Downing Street by Boris Johnson, but entirely inkeeping with a Government that is itself targeting refugees, spreading Islamophobia, clamping down on protest and leading a racist divide and rule offensive. We must stand together against the rise of racist populism in Britain and across Europe.
Ulrike Schmidt, Amnesty International UK country coordinator for Hungary and Central Europe said:
“Amnesty International has grave concerns regarding the Human Rights situation in Hungary since Victor Orbán’s Fidez Party took power in 2010.
“A major concern is the discriminatory treatment and hate speech directed against minorities : against Roma who have lived in Hungary for over 600 years and against refugees and migrants claiming the universal Human Right to asylum from persecution. We have further grave concerns about the near total government control of the media, the government attempts at curtailing the independence of the judiciary and the criminalisation of civil society, particularly the criminalisation of those who help the most vulnerable ; refugees and the homeless.”
Weyman Bennett, co convenor Stand Up To Racism, said:
“Orbàn is a racist, and has been a prominent spokesperson for the far right from a position of power as a prime minister of Hungary. He has been a galvaniser for the far right and fascist forces we have seen across Europe, the US and wider, seeking to grow out of the chaos of the political crisis. Orbàn has combined vicious Islamophobia, and attacks on migrants and Roma communities, with articulating antisemitism as a world view.
“We in the anti racist movement are not suprised to see Johnson welcome this racist. It is a reflection of Johnson’s cabinet’s conscious efforts to turn back the clock on racism. This is a prime minister and a cabinet who denied institutional racism in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and who are implementing horrific and cruel immigration policy with the return of dawn raids in our communities. They have just been found to be institutionally racist in the report from the enquiry on Islamophobia in the Tory party.
“We oppose this visit and resolve to stand up against all forms of racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism and to oppose the far right.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP said:“Britain should not be rolling out the red carpet for authoritarian leaders who erode democratic norms and make racism a pillar of their policies.
Entertaining Viktor Orban at Downing Street is an insult to the GRT, Jewish and Muslim communities under attack by his Government.”
Claudia Webbe MP said:
“It is appalling that the Prime Minister is laying out the Downing Street red carpet for Viktor Orban, who is responsible for Islamophobia, anti-roma racism, antisemitic conspiracy theories and migrant scapegoating.
“Yet sadly, it is not surprising. After all, Boris Johnson himself has a long history of racist, Islamophobic and anti-migrant comments.
“This is the Prime Minister showing his true colours. We must oppose Orban’s visit and protest Britain’s role in a right-wing, racist global coalition. Ultimately, we must reject all attempts to divide us up and continue to fight for a world free of hatred, inequity and injustice.”
TSSA General Secretary, Manuel Cortes, said:
“On no account should Viktor Orbán be made welcome in Downing Street. Boris Johnson is showing his true colours by rolling out the red carpet for this bigot who is responsible for fueling hate against Jewish, Muslim, Romani and LGBT+ communities in Hungary and attacks on civil liberties and press freedoms.
“Our Prime Minister should be speaking out against Orbán rather than welcoming him with open arms. Johnson is acting against the British interest by cuddling up to the vile politics of the Hungarian leader.”
Mick Whelan, ASLEF General Secretary said:
“Such a visit should not have been allowed unless it was to challenge Mr Orban on his racism, human rights practices and to advise of him what sanctions will be applied if there is no change.”
Mohammed Shafiq – PCS Union National Black Members Committee said:
The welcoming of Victor Orbán to Downing street should be condemned by all. This far right politician has demonised Muslims, Roma community, refugees, Jews and the LGBTI community.
He should not be welcomed to our country with a red carpet. PCS Union supports the Stand up to Racism protest and offers solidarity to all those standing up against racism and bigotry.
Daniel Kebede, NEU Senior Vice President said:“Orbán won his election peddling antisemitic conspiracy theories on billboards. He has referred to refugees as “Muslim Invaders”, called migration “poison”, attacked the rights of Trans people through his “corona bill” and undermined democracy in Hungary.“We need unity in action against Orbán. Whether you are Jewish, Muslim, LGBT, black or white we all have a shared interest in opposing his visit. Boris Johnson should not be legitimising him by hosting him in Downing Street. “
A spokesperson for Searchlight Magazine said:
“Searchlight echoes the concerns of others that Johnson has the confidence to openly host Orbán at no 10. It says a lot about the current government given Orbán’s record of anti-semitism, anti-Islam and anti-Roma. “
Andrew Boateng, said:
The visit of Viktor Orbán Prime minister of Hungry to be hosted by Boris Johnson today should be met with great caution in light of the Hungarian prime minister’s abysmal track-record on race relations and discrimination.
Given the current climate and existing tensions where anti-Semitism, islamophobia and hate crime is on the rise it is imperative that leaders and figures such as Orbán are held to account and ministerial visits should only take place where the addressing of discrimination history and solutions for change are high on the agenda.
With the recent high profile of the anti-racist movement it is now more important than ever for all to stand shoulder to shoulder in unity in the fight against all forms of racism including antisemitism, islamophobia and anti-roma discrimination providing hope for the next generation and beyond.
Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition said:
Orbán is known for his reactionary racism against Jews, Roma and Muslims. He should be a pariah across Europe, not feted in Downing St. In a week when Boris Johnson’s party has been indicted for Islamophobia, the government is only adding insult to injury in hosting this man. Solidarity to those opposing him here in London and in Hungary.
Anthony Conway, Morning Star Journalist said:“Orban and his government is antisemitic. This Government is giving support to antisemites by welcoming him. “
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info@standuptoracism.org.uk