HUNGARY: PÉCS PRIDE ORGANIZER AT RISK OF PROSECUTION

Dear Chief Prosecutor,

I am writing to express deep concern regarding the ongoing criminal investigation against Géza Buzás-Hábel, in relation to organizing the Pécs Pride march on October 4, 2025.

The police decision on the Pécs Pride, effectively declaring it ‘a banned assembly’ in September 2025 was arbitrary and discriminatory, based solely on the ‘anti-Pride’ law which became effective in April 2025. This ban and the legislation itself have been widely criticized by regional and international organizations as regressive, discriminatory, and to be in violation of human rights standards. The organization of a peaceful assembly advocating for equality, human rights, and remembrance, such as Pécs Pride, is protected conduct under the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination, as enshrined in regional and international standards to which Hungary is bound.

The international community is closely following Géza Buzás-Hábel’s situation, which represents an alarming escalation in the criminalization of LGBTI+ expression and peaceful assembly in Hungary.

Prosecuting Géza Buzás-Hábel would constitute a violation of his rights, including to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. I urge you to immediately terminate the proceedings against Géza Buzás-Hábel as he should not be at risk of prosecution simply for exercising his rights.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]