BUDAPEST – In a letter addressed to Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán, Amb. Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Hungarian government, following its decision to deny entry to the band Kneecap, citing its well-documented record of antisemitic rhetoric and glorification of terrorism.
The band, which was scheduled to perform next month at Sziget Festival, has repeatedly glorified terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah and propagated antisemitic speech.
In the letter, Amb. Lauder said: "At a time when hatred is increasingly masked as performance or cultural critique, your government has made it clear that antisemitism will not be tolerated. This decision affirms that freedom of expression does not include the freedom to incite hate and is a much-needed reassurance to the Jewish community that they are not alone." The letter recognizes rising antisemitic incidents in Europe and that the move reaffirms Hungary’s zero tolerance for any form of antisemitism.
Amb. Lauder concluded the letter with praise for Prime Minister Orbán’s leadership and commitment to protecting Hungarian Jewish communities.
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