A/HRC/58/49/Add.1
respondents aged 18-74 could be classified as moderately or strongly antisemitic. The
Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA)’s 2023 antisemitism survey showed that 94% of 1,338
respondents aged 16 or above had encountered antisemitism in their daily life in the year
before the survey, and 27% had experienced antisemitic harassment. 65% considered
antisemitism a big problem in their lives, below the survey average of 84%. One in four
claimed to never wear Jewish symbols in daily life because of safety concerns. 20% thought
that the Government combatted antisemitism effectively. 53
103. In 2022, domestic and international extremist and neo-Nazi groups marked the
anniversary of the breakout attempt by Hungarian and German troops on 11 February 1945
during the Soviet army’s siege of Budapest. The Special Rapporteur learnt that police halted
a ‘Day of Honour’ event planned for 11 February on the grounds that the organizer had misled
authorities regarding the nature of the commemoration. Despite the police ban, media
reported several hundred extreme-right and neo-Nazi sympathizers gathered in the Buda
Castle to commemorate. Police successfully prevented them from clashing with a couple of
100 Hungarian and international counter protesters in that area, however, police reported
assaults between antifascist demonstrators and extreme right sympathizers elsewhere in the
city.
104. Campaigns, with strong underlying antisemitic messaging, regularly accuse George
Soros, the 94-year-old Budapest-born billionaire investor and philanthropist, of encouraging
mass immigration to ‘undermine’ Europe. For instance, pro-government posters before the
2018 general election portrayed him with strong antisemitic messaging laughing saying ‘99%
reject illegal immigration’, and ‘[d]on’t let Soros have the last laugh’. Interlocutors
highlighted such campaigns as pandering to, and fuelling, the public’s antisemitic
prejudices.54
105. There are reports of internal disagreements within the Jewish community. The Special
Rapporteur met with the various Jewish groups during her visit; some recognized as tier 1
established churches, others unrecognised. The Federation of Hungarian Jewish
Communities (MAZSIHISZ) asserted that it represents 90% of Hungary’s Jewish population.
Smaller Jewish groups painted a very different picture. In 2021, two orthodox groups
(Autonomous Orthodox Jewish Community of Hungary and EMIH) took action in an Israeli
court in relation to restitution repayments in a dispute with MAZSIHISZ. The Special
Rapporteur also heard reports of an ongoing dispute concerning real estate among some of
these groups.
C.
Atheists/humanists
106. 44% of Hungarians declared their religious affiliation in the latest census, and
Hungary is officially a secular State, yet the Government systematically gives preference to
top-tier churches in policy and practice. Considerable government support is given for
activities ran by “established churches”. Given the autonomy of religious communities, and
in contrast with other organizations, transparency regarding the amount of taxpayers’ money
granted to Churches through resources received through funding schemes and ad hoc decrees
from government, ministries and local government is unclear - as are the monies that may be
used for the promotion of religious views.
107. In this respect, the Special Rapporteur noted concerns expressed by a variety of
stakeholders that the non-religious, atheists and humanists, suffer an overall systemic
discrimination and disadvantage, which is perpetrated by government officials, public
institutions and even the judiciary and also by nonstate actors.
108. As noted previously, Hungarian legislation enables individuals to make a voluntary
contribution of 1% of their personal income tax to a religious community that is recognised
53
54
A/HRC/49/8 and https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2013-discrimination-hate-crime-againstjews-eu-member-states-0_en.pdf .
HUN 1/2018.
17