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Szaniszló has previously referred to Hungary's Roma minority as "apes" and suggested that he regards Jews as "garbage".<ref name=paterson /><ref name=jta>{{cite news|title=Hungarian journalist to return state honor, denies anti-semitism|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/hungarian-journalist-to-return-state-honor-denies-anti-semitism|accessdate=24 March 2013|newspaper=Haaretz|date=21 March 2013}}</ref> His receipt of the Táncsics award was immediately criticized by Hungarian and international media, by the Israeli ambassador Ilan Mor, and by U.S. ambassador [[Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis]].<ref name=paterson /><ref name=salzmann>{{cite news|last=Salzmann|first=Marcus|title=Hungary: National award for notorious Anti-Semite|url=http://wsws.org/en/articles/2013/03/23/hung-m23.html|accessdate=24 March 2013|newspaper=World Socialist Web Site|date=24 March 2013}}</ref> A dozen former recipients of the Táncsics returned their awards in protest.<ref name=dunai>{{cite news|last=Dunai|first=Martin|title=Hungary asks reporter to return award over anti-Semitism row|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/us-hungary-journalist-idUSBRE92J0AD20130320|accessdate=24 March 2013|newspaper=Reuters|date=21 March 2013}}</ref>
Szaniszló has previously referred to Hungary's Roma minority as "apes" and suggested that he regards Jews as "garbage".<ref name=paterson /><ref name=jta>{{cite news|title=Hungarian journalist to return state honor, denies anti-semitism|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/hungarian-journalist-to-return-state-honor-denies-anti-semitism|accessdate=24 March 2013|newspaper=Haaretz|date=21 March 2013}}</ref> His receipt of the Táncsics award was immediately criticized by Hungarian and international media, by the Israeli ambassador Ilan Mor, and by U.S. ambassador [[Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis]].<ref name=paterson /><ref name=salzmann>{{cite news|last=Salzmann|first=Marcus|title=Hungary: National award for notorious Anti-Semite|url=http://wsws.org/en/articles/2013/03/23/hung-m23.html|accessdate=24 March 2013|newspaper=World Socialist Web Site|date=24 March 2013}}</ref> A dozen former recipients of the Táncsics returned their awards in protest.<ref name=dunai>{{cite news|last=Dunai|first=Martin|title=Hungary asks reporter to return award over anti-Semitism row|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/us-hungary-journalist-idUSBRE92J0AD20130320|accessdate=24 March 2013|newspaper=Reuters|date=21 March 2013}}</ref>

Alongside the prize awarded to Szaniszló, the [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary|Order of Merit]] was awarded to [[Kornél Bakay]], an archaeologist who has claimed that Jesus was not Jewish, but a [[Parthian]], and the [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary|Golden Cross]] was awarded to Janos Petras, lead singer of the rock band [[Kárpátia]], known for its close ties to [[Jobbik]] and support for territorial expansion of Hungary.<ref name="SZ-17Mar2013">{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Regierung verleiht Orden an antisemitischen Journalisten|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/rechtskonservative-in-ungarn-regierung-verleiht-orden-an-antisemitischen-journalist-1.1626414|accessdate=29 April 2013|newspaper=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]]|date=17 March 2013}}</ref> Critics suggested that the granting of these awards was an olive branch by the Fidesz government to the extreme right wing political scene.<ref name="SZ-17Mar2013"/>


In response, and following a request by minister Balog, Szaniszló returned his award. He denied the charge of racism and stated that we was "a victim of machinations by [[Israel]] and the [[United States of America|United States]]".<ref name=jta /> Balog stated that Szaniszló's award primarily intended to acknowledge the media figure's previous work, and said that he only later learned of Szaniszló's racist remarks.<ref name=dunai />
In response, and following a request by minister Balog, Szaniszló returned his award. He denied the charge of racism and stated that we was "a victim of machinations by [[Israel]] and the [[United States of America|United States]]".<ref name=jta /> Balog stated that Szaniszló's award primarily intended to acknowledge the media figure's previous work, and said that he only later learned of Szaniszló's racist remarks.<ref name=dunai />

Revision as of 01:21, 30 April 2013

Ferenc Szaniszló (born 7 October, 1960) is a Hungarian right-wing media figure and a broadcaster for Echo TV, a conservative television service in Hungary. In 2013 Szaniszló received Hungary's prestigious Táncsics journalism award for his earlier work, including reports on the fall of the Soviet Union and the Yugoslav Wars, but returned it following criticism over anti-Semitic and anti-Roma remarks broadcast nationally on Echo TV.

Career

Szaniszló was born in Csenger in 1960, and grew up in Csegöld and Fehérgyarmat, both in east Hungary. He attended University in Moscow, and was subsequently stationed there as an employee of the Hungarian daily paper Magyar Hírlap.[1]

Working for Budapest television, Szaniszló reported on the collapse of the Soviet Union,[2] and on the conflict between Serb and Hungarian speaking populations in Yugoslavia.[3] Later, Szaniszló covered the Kosovo war in Serbia, interviewing Albanian villagers and political leaders.[4]

In Hungary, Szaniszló has worked for the television chain Echo TV, which is, according to the Le Monde, a "favorite forum among Hungarian neofascists."[5]

Returned Táncsics award

Roma minority in Hungary (census 2001), by localities

On 14 March 2013[6] the Hungarian Human Resources Minister Zoltán Balog awarded Szaniszló the Táncsics award, one of Hungary's highest[7][8][9] state awards for journalism, named after Mihály Táncsics.[10]

Szaniszló has previously referred to Hungary's Roma minority as "apes" and suggested that he regards Jews as "garbage".[10][11] His receipt of the Táncsics award was immediately criticized by Hungarian and international media, by the Israeli ambassador Ilan Mor, and by U.S. ambassador Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis.[10][12] A dozen former recipients of the Táncsics returned their awards in protest.[13]

Alongside the prize awarded to Szaniszló, the Order of Merit was awarded to Kornél Bakay, an archaeologist who has claimed that Jesus was not Jewish, but a Parthian, and the Golden Cross was awarded to Janos Petras, lead singer of the rock band Kárpátia, known for its close ties to Jobbik and support for territorial expansion of Hungary.[14] Critics suggested that the granting of these awards was an olive branch by the Fidesz government to the extreme right wing political scene.[14]

In response, and following a request by minister Balog, Szaniszló returned his award. He denied the charge of racism and stated that we was "a victim of machinations by Israel and the United States".[11] Balog stated that Szaniszló's award primarily intended to acknowledge the media figure's previous work, and said that he only later learned of Szaniszló's racist remarks.[13]

On 22 March Balog wrote to the Ambassador of the United States, stating that he had immediately admitted his mistake in honoring Szaniszló. Balog countered that the Government of the United States had made the same error as Hungary in preparing to honor Egyptian Samira Ibrahim. [15][16]

Hungary's Szent Korona Rádió (Holy Cross Radio) quoted the president of the Jobbik Party, Gábor Vona, who stated that Szaniszló had won a "moral victory."[17]

The left-wing television channel ATV quoted the Ambassador of the United States, who said that she was pleased to see that Minister Balog had come around and had corrected his mistake. [18]

References

  1. ^ "Szaniszló kitüntetése legitimálja a gyűlöletkeltést". index.hu (in Hungarian). 14 March 2013.("Awarding Szaniszló legitimizes incitement of hatred")
  2. ^ Szaniszlo, Ferenc (20 February 1989). "Yeltsin on restructuring and Soviet leaders". BBC. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ "Other reports on Croatia: Hungarian-populated village in Slavonia fighting Chetniks receives ultimatum". BBC. 11 July 1991. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  4. ^ "Yugoslavia: Albanian leaders on negotiation positions, arms, tactics". BBC. 11 September 1998. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ Stolz, Joelle (29 March 2012). "Prime au fascisme en Hongrie". M - Le Monde. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  6. ^ [1]"Szaniszló kitüntetése legitimálja a gyűlöletkeltést, Index.hu, March 14th 2013."
  7. ^ "Hungarian government awards prize to far-right journalist". Euronews. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  8. ^ Hershfeld, Rachel (21 March 2013). "Racist Hungarian Journalist Returns State Prize". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  9. ^ Thorpe, Nick (18 March 2013). "Anger in Hungary at prize for 'anti-Semitic' reporter". BBC. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  10. ^ a b c Paterson, Tony (17 March 2012). "Hungarian government awards Tancsics prize for journalism to notorious anti-Semite Ferenc Szaniszlo". The Independent. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Hungarian journalist to return state honor, denies anti-semitism". Haaretz. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  12. ^ Salzmann, Marcus (24 March 2013). "Hungary: National award for notorious Anti-Semite". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  13. ^ a b Dunai, Martin (21 March 2013). "Hungary asks reporter to return award over anti-Semitism row". Reuters. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  14. ^ a b "Regierung verleiht Orden an antisemitischen Journalisten". Süddeutsche Zeitung. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
  15. ^ http://www.balogzoltan.hu/balog-zoltan-levele-az-amerikai-egyesult-allamok-magyarorszagi-nagykovete-reszere/
  16. ^ http://www2.magyarhirlap.hu/balog-a-kettos-merce-az-usa-nak-art
  17. ^ "Szaniszlo Ferenc returns the honor". Holy Cross Radio. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  18. ^ http://atv.hu/cikk/video-20130321_balog_zoltan_belatta_nagyon_orult_az_amerikai_nagykovet
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