February 22nd, 2008

Free Democrats reported to police for using totalitarian symbols

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A private citizen walked into the Budapest Police on Thursday and filed a complaint that the Free Democrats are using a symbol of totalitarianism in their anti-referendum campaign, an MTI report at Index.hu states.

The ad campaign calls the referendum a vote on socialism, and uses a red star in its imagery. Back in January, Free Democrat Chairman János Kóka denied that the object in the campaign is a five-pointed red star, which as a symbol of totalitarianism is forbidden in Hungary.

Police have said they will examine whether or not the symbol in the ad campaign is indeed a five-pointed red star, and in violation of Hungarian laws.

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3 Comments

  1. Viking says:
    February 23, 2008 at 8:12 am

    So where are all defenders of “Real Democracy and Free Speech” now?

  2. aemann says:
    February 26, 2008 at 1:13 am

    Its a RED STAR! Its the very symbol of communism – banned by
    Hungarian Law! Look – you can see it right there – just under the
    Hammer and Sickle and just above the jackboot stamping on a
    human face – forever.
    This is NOT a free speech issue but trust you to try to merge the
    two things together to justify the unjustifiable. No, that’s not a
    swastika, its just a black cross with little bits on the end. What’s all
    the fuss about – we’re the commies, we’re in power and can do
    whatever we want.

  3. Viking says:
    February 26, 2008 at 8:23 am

    aemann – Suddenly you are for a lot of limitations on people rights to express themselves. If “Free Speech” does not include symbols, what does it include?
    I should be able to publicly state that “Gypsies=Thieves”, but not if I hold a flag with a Red Star or Swaztika?
    Personally, obviously different from you, I do not like laws that forbids symbols. The symbols represent ideas, and we should work with convincing people about the wrong in their ideas. This is not done in the law-book.