Recent court cases in Hungary raise questions about how the “hate crime” laws are being interpreted, what role provocations from hate groups are playing in these cases, and how this could affect the broader Roma and non- Roma communities in Europe. These cases include the August 2013 conviction of the serial killers of 7 Roma Hungarians in 2008, the recent appellate court ruling in Debrecen of Sajobabony Roma defendants incited by Hungarian Garda action, the decision of the Hungarian police in September not to investigate the attack on a Roma family in Devecser, and the trial in Miskolc of Roma defendants accused of hate crimes and civil disorder. What is a “hate crime?” What are lessons learned from these trials, for the Roma people, and the rest of us in the region? What personal actions can/should be taken by everyone in the future about this? After the panel speaks briefly, members of the audience will be invited to join in the discussion.
Moderator: Nick Thorpe, BBC
Panelists: Aladar Horvath, former member of Parliament, founder of the Roma Civil Rights Movement of Hungary
Eszter Jovanovics, lawyer, Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ), head of the Roma program, member of the Workgroup Against Hate Crime (Gyulolet-buncselekmenyek Elleni Munkacsoport)
Margareta Matache, research fellow, FXB Center for Health and Human rights, Harvard University, former director of Romani Criss, Romania
Andras Vagvolgyi, founder and former editor of Magyar Narancs, editor of ciganyvadaszat-per.blog.hu, the blog covering the serial killers’ trial
Date: November 5, 2013
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Auditorium (CEU, Nador u. 9)
