TAKE ACTION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

DROP CHARGES AGAINST PÉCS PRIDE ORGANIZER

Hungary UA 99.25

Géza Buzás-Hábel, a human rights defender and organizer of the 2025 Pécs Pride, is facing criminal charges filed on February 9, 2026, for planning a peaceful LGBTI+ rights march, which took place on October 4, 2025, despite the ban issued by authorities under Hungary’s anti-Pride law. If convicted, he could face up to one year of imprisonment. These proceedings constitute undue interference in the exercise of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination under European and international human rights law. This case marks a troubling escalation in the criminalization of LGBTI expression and peaceful assembly in Hungary.

Call on the Prosecutor’s Office to immediately drop the criminal charges and discontinue the proceedings against Géza Buzás-Hábel - send your letter using our email writing tool.

YOUR INFORMATION

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Address

Apt., Ste., Bldg.

City

State

Postal Code

Country

Phone Number (Optional)

By providing your mobile number, you are signing up to receive calls, recurring messages from Amnesty International USA at 213-33. Repy STOP to quit. Msg and data rates may apply. Privacy & Terms.

Postal Address Sharing

Do not exchange my postal address with other organizations.

Customize your message

Chief Prosecutor

István

Takács

Chief Prosecutor

Dear Chief Prosecutor,

I am concerned about the criminal charges formally filed against human rights defender Géza Buzás-Hábel for organizing the Pécs Pride march that took place on October 4, 2025.

The police decision on the Pécs Pride, effectively declaring it ‘a banned assembly’ in September 2025, was arbitrary and discriminatory, based solely on the ‘anti-Pride’ law which became effective in April 2025. This ban and the legislation itself have been widely criticized by regional and international organizations as regressive, discriminatory, and to be in violation of human rights standards. The organization of a peaceful assembly advocating for equality, human rights, and remembrance, such as Pécs Pride, is protected conduct under the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination, as enshrined in regional and international standards to which Hungary is bound.

The international community is closely following Géza Buzás-Hábel’s situation and the recent criminal charges brought against him, which represents an alarming escalation in the criminalization of LGBTI expression and peaceful assembly in Hungary.

Prosecuting Géza Buzás-Hábel constitutes a violation of his rights, including to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. I urge you to immediately drop the charges and terminate the proceedings against Géza Buzás-Hábel as he should not be prosecuted simply for exercising his human rights.

Yours sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}