Shlomo Köves, the Association of Hungarian Jewish Communities (EMIH), has nothing but praise for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent measure to protect Jewish civilians.
“The exemplary decision of the Government of Hungary rightly further strengthens the sense of security of the Jewish community in Hungary and at the same time sends a clear message: the struggle between the death sect Hamas and Israel is not just a matter of a terrorist group and the Jewish state, but also a battle between good and evil, the defense of the free world and Western civilization against barbarism,” Köves told Neokohn.
His comments came after the government banned members of the Irish rap band Kneecap from entering Hungary for three years due to their anti-Semitic hate speech on stage, including pro-Hamas, pro-Hezbollah, and anti-Israel messages. The group was set to perform at the annual Sziget Festival this month.
The organizers of the Sziget Festival had previously stated in their statement that they reject censorship, but guarantee that all performers respect Hungarian laws. They emphasized the importance of artistic freedom and freedom of speech, but at the same time indicated that if any production violates the law, they will immediately intervene.
“The actions of the terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah are not artistic expressions of freedom of speech, but an affront to the human dignity of innocent civilian victims.”
The issue is now moot, as the government has banned them outright from entering the country.
Neokohn notes that EMIH, unlike Hungary’s largest Jewish congregation, Mazsihisz, had not previously reacted with a boycott on Sziget. Instead, it confirmed its determination that their civil society organization would not only continue to be represented at Sziget, but would also step up its efforts in providing education and information services, faithful to the millennia-old Jewish tradition that “darkness can only be fought with light.”
Recalling this position, the chief rabbi added: “The EMIH will be at Sziget again this year, as it has been for the past 27 years, to fight darkness with light through the promotion of Judaism.” EMIH has an “Ask the Rabbi” booth, where people can ask them anything about Judaism.
