A pro-government Weekly in Hungary, Figyelő, has published an article entitled ‘The man of the speculator’ [Soros] which lists board members and staff of NGOs such as Amnesty International Hungary, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, Civil Liberties Union, Transparency International Hungary and many other civil organisations.
The list also features the journalists of Direkt36, an investigative journalism site and the teachers of the Central European University.
“I would like to say that I am surprised and outraged. But it would be more accurate to say that I am sad and slightly disgusted,” said Julia Ivan, Director of Amnesty International Hungary.
“We wake up every morning thinking about what despicable lies are we going to read in the government media that day. Today’s list is the latest attempt to intimidate co-workers, members and supporters of NGOs.”
“We have bad news for the government: we are not afraid, we are not going to step down. We will keep working for those values and human rights that the government forgot a long time ago”
Julia Ivan, Director of Amnesty International Hungary
“We have bad news for the government: we are not afraid, we are not going to step down. We will keep working for those values and human rights that the government forgot a long time ago.
“These organisations are supporting and representing tens of thousands of people. By attacking them, the government neglects the needs of these people. If the government accomplishes its aim and leaves Hungary with no human rights NGOs, vulnerable people will be left behind without any help and support.
“This is not only about the NGOs that are under attack, this affects everyone’s life. In response we all should raise our voice, and make it clear: we will not be intimidated.”
