[20.09.2007] CP of Britain: Protest at the Hungarian Embassy in Britain

HE Mr Bela Szombati
Embassy of the Republic of Hungary
35 Eaton Place
London, SW1X 8BY
020 72355218


Your Excellency,

We ask you to convey to your Government our grave concern at the prosecution of the entire Presidium of the Hungarian Communist Workers Party which is due to commence on Friday 21 September at the City Court of Szekesfeheervar.

We believe this prosecution to be in violation of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and article 61 of the Hungarian Constitution on the freedom to express an opinion.

As you will be aware, the prosecution arises from a previous legal action by the Budapest City Court. This ruled the proceedings of the party’s 21st Congress in June 2005 to be null and void. The Presidium of the HCWP declared this judgement to be political and an unjustified interference in the internal democracy of their party.

It is for this statement that the Presidium is now being prosecuted. They face the possibility of two years imprisonment.

In our judgement this prosecution constitutes a gross breach of their civil rights and if allowed to proceed sets precedents that threaten civil liberties everywhere.

We trust the Hungarian Government will support the civil liberties of their citizens and of those elsewhere in Europe.

Yours faithfully

ROBERT GRIFFTHS	JOHN FOSTER
General Secretary	International Secretary