In a democratic state governed by the rule of law, "there is no place for provisions that have led to criminal proceedings against citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly and have threatened hundreds of thousands with heavy fines," the NGOs - Amnesty International Hungary, the Diverse Youth Network, the Hatter Society, the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, the Rainbow Mission Foundation, and the Society for Civil Rights -- said in a statement on Thursday.

The statement noted that in April this year, the EU Court of Justice ruled against a section of the so-called child protection law, "in reality, a homophobic and transphobic propaganda law", prohibits making content available to those under 18 that depicts homosexuality or a deviation from gender identity corresponding to one's biological sex.

Last year's amendment to the law on assembly cites this provision, and police banned gatherings that feature homosexuality or transgenderism on the basis of this provision, they added.

The organisations also called for the repeal of the provision in the Misdemeanour Act that allowed for the punishment of those who participated in Pride parades despite the ban.

Additionally, they would also repeal the amendment that allowed the police to use automated facial recognition for any misdemeanour, "clearly with the aim of deterring people from participating in Budapest Pride and Pecs Pride".

Photo: Budapest Pride

Source: MTI – Hungary’s national news agency since 1881.

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