Hungary Charges Budapest Mayor Over Banned Pride March Event

Budapest Mayor Charged by Prosecutors Over Gay Pride March

Prosecutors in Hungary have filed charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, alleging that he organized a public gathering despite a police ban. The district prosecutor’s office has proposed a fine without a trial for the mayor, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

Karacsony is accused of violating regulations related to the annual gay pride march in Budapest, which took place last year and drew hundreds of thousands of participants. The event was banned by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government, but organizers at Budapest City Hall attempted to co-organize it to circumvent the ban.

Police had issued objections to the event, and Orban warned attendees of potential “legal consequences.” Karacsony has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he will not be intimidated by the charges. He expressed his support for freedom of expression and criticized what he described as a “selfish, petty, and despicable power.”

The European Greens party has condemned the charges, calling them “outrageous” and standing in solidarity with Karacsony. The party’s affiliate in Hungary, Dialogue, is also affiliated with Karacsony.

Under Hungarian law, participants in the banned march could face fines of up to 500 euros (approximately $600) for attending. Organizers, including Karacsony, could potentially face penalties of up to one year in prison for organizing and urging participation in a prohibited rally.

Source: Al Jazeera