#freedom-of-assembly

#freedom-of-assembly

"The police concluded their investigation against me in connection with the Budapest Pride march in June with a recommendation to press charges," he said in a video posted to Facebook. "They accuse me of violating the [new law on] freedom of assembly, which is completely absurd." Karácsony approved the Pride event and took to the streets with hundreds of thousands of marchers in defiance of the ban. Celebrants anointed Orbán "King of European Pride."

I observe that large numbers of arrests have reportedly been made for displaying placards or banners expressing solidarity with the organisation or disagreement with the government's decision to proscribe it. I am aware that support' for a proscribed group is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000. In this regard I recall that domestic legislation designed to counter terrorism' or violent extremism' must not impose any limitations on fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, that are not strictly necessary for the protection of national security and the rights and freedoms of others.