Hungary bans Pride events in its latest crackdown on LGBTQ rights

Lawmakers in Hungary have voted to ban Pride events and allow authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attendees and potentially fine them, in what Amnesty International has described as a "full-frontal attack" on the LGBTQ+ community.

- Ashifa Kassam

The legislation - the latest by the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and his rightwing populist party to target the community - was pushed through parliament yesterday. Believed to be the first of its kind in the EU's recent history, the nationwide ban passed by 136 votes to 27 after it was submitted to parliament on Monday.

It amends the country's law on assembly to make it an offence to hold or attend events that violate Hungary's controversial "child protection" legislation, which bars any "depiction or promotion" of homosexuality to minors under the age of 18.

Amnesty International described the legislation as the latest in a series of measures that Hungary has taken against the community. "The spurious justification for the passing of this law - that events and assemblies would be 'harmful to children' - is based on harmful stereotypes and deeply entrenched discrimination, homophobia and transphobia," it said in a statement.