Law-makers in Hungary and the Netherlands have signalled intentions to restrict or outlaw Antifa, a loose network of left-wing activists involved in violent protests.
In Budapest, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on public radio today that, following the US, Hungary will formally designate Antifa as a terrorist organisation.
The decision comes in the shadow of the high-profile case of Italian MEP Ilaria Salis, whom Orbán has alleged was linked to Antifa activism.
Salis had previously faced detention in Hungary in connection with anti-fascist demonstrations.
In 2023, the left-wing extremist gang violently assaulted nine random civilians – based on what they said was their victims’ “Nazi-like” clothing – with hammers, batons and pepper spray across five Budapest sites, leaving victims comatose or severely injured.
She has denied the charges, but consistently identified as an anti-fascist activist. She described her persecution as stemming from her political beliefs.
The European Parliament will next week decide on lifting her immunity, meaning she could face trial in Hungary for alleged violent attacks committed in Budapest.
On Tuesday, September 23, the Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) will vote on whether to recommend lifting her immunity, following a request from the Hungarian authorities. Should JURI agree, the matter will proceed to the plenary session in Strasbourg, scheduled for October 7.
Ilaria Salis was suspected of being involved in the notorious German “Hammer Gang” that was accused of attacking politicians in Hungary with hammers last year.
She was facing a potential 20-year custodial sentence in Hungary.
Click the link to watch the video. 👇 https://t.co/kIegQxK5rW
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) June 13, 2024
Orbán’s government argues that Antifa represents a transnational threat, accusing its adherents of orchestrating violent confrontations across Europe.
The planned terrorist designation would give Hungarian authorities sweeping powers to arrest suspects, freeze assets and ban associated organisations.
In the Netherlands parliament, a right-wing majority adopted a motion by Lidewij de Vos (FvD) and Geert Wilders (PVV) urging the government to also classify Antifa as a terrorist organisation.
Proponents cited Antifa’s threats to politicians, disruption of events and intimidation of journalists and students.
The current government, though, opposes the move and legal experts note it may lack practical effect since Antifa has no formal entity in the Netherlands.
The National C0-ordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) described left-wing extremism there as “fragmented and small”.
A 2023 attack on Forum for Democracy (FvD) party leader Thierry Baudet with a beer bottle was attributed to Antifa sympathisers.
Opponents of a ban argued that Antifa is not a formal organisation but, rather, a decentralised movement, thus making prohibition difficult to enforce in practice.
Civil rights advocates further cautioned that outlawing Antifa could set a dangerous precedent, potentially adveresely impacting peaceful anti-racist and anti-fascist campaigners under broad security legislation.
THE FIRST #LETWOMENSPEAKNL IN THE NETHERLANDS WAS TODAY
Agressive anti-women demonstrators got into fights with the police, while they where trying to disrupt #LetWomenSpeakUtrecht.
The Mayor @sharon_dijksma thought it was a good idea to place them with us in the same park. pic.twitter.com/KVbkSgoww5
— Caroline Franssen (@CoachCaroline) September 9, 2023
In Belgium, the President of the French-speaking Liberals, Georges-Louis Bouchez, also launched a proposal to ban Antifa.
His request came following violent protests against his own centrist political party and the desecration of the tombstone of a late prominent Jewish Liberal statesman, Jean Gol, yesterday.
Bouchez said that his party will work to abolish Antifa both in the government and in parliament.
He claimed Antifa used fascist means of operating and was, “without any doubt, the biggest danger for our democracy today”.
Bouchez alleged the leftist extremists systematically used violence and that, more generally, the monopoly of political violence in contemporary Belgium was completely driven by the Left.
He also alleged that some unnamed professors at the University of Liège were part of the violent protests.
In the European Parliament there have already been multiple motions tabled to list Antifa on the European Union terrorist list.
A 2023 resolution by Alternative for Germany (AfD) MEPs called for this, citing Antifa’s alleged violence in Hungary and Germany, including assaults on civilians and police.
