This is what Katalin Novák said to Mandiner in connection with the verdict in the defamation lawsuit initiated last year by the minister responsible for family affairs against Gergely Homonnay, who called him a "vile Nazi worm".
The Pest Central District Court sentenced the DK activist to one year's probation and ordered him to pay the court costs.
We quote from the interview below.
For me, the stake of this court hearing was to find out if there are any limits to the free expression of opinion. I am used to taking note of legitimate and even unfair criticisms, but this case has now crossed a line. In this case, I believe that human dignity has been violated to such an extent that the matter had to be voiced. The other party had no regard for the fact that I am also a human being, the mother of three minor children.(...)
We must point out that those who demand tolerance, those who speak out against the incitement of hatred, are inciting hatred step by step. As a citizen, I wanted to block this process. (…)
Many people may have an opinion about what they consider hateful; however, I still consider the "vile nazi worm" comment about another person to be a hateful term. I feel it is wrong that this can be written today without consequences. I believe that incitement of hatred cannot be defended by incitement of hatred, just as violence cannot be acted upon with force. (…)
I don't think the main thing is the reason someone makes a hateful expression, but that they say it. That is why today's judgment is an important confirmation for me that it is not possible to go this far according to Hungarian legislation and judicial practice.
the entire article here.
