Miklós Soltész denounced comments of opposition parties comparing the display of Christian cross-pattern flags at parliament on St. Stephen’s day to the anti-Semitism of the Nazi era and to the "violent Islamization" in Turkey.
August 20th commemorates Hungary's first king, Stephen founding the Christian Kingdom of Hungary in 1000 and his canonization by the Catholic Church on August 20th, 1083. This year, during the official state celebration, flags with Christian cross symbol were flown at the Parliament.
Members of both the Hungarian Liberal Party and the Democratic Coalition Party harshly criticized the Hungarian government for presenting symbols of Christianity on the legislative building for the anniversary.
Miklós Soltész, Minister of State for Churches, Minorities and Civil Affairs, said the flags symbolizing Christianity, besides their obvious relevance to the memorial day, also show solidarity with the huge number of Christians being persecuted for their faith in the Middle East.
The Hungarian government was the first in the world to establish a state secretariat for persecuted Christians and took the highest number of measures against anti-Semitism, the minister pointed out.
Ádám Sermer, the administrative director of the Hungarian Liberal Party (Magyar Liberális Párt) shared that he ‘feels disgust’ for the flags with a cross. In a subsequent communiqué, the party accused the government with anti-Semitism for displaying the banner decorated with the symbol of Christianity.
Ferenc Gyurcsány, former prime minister and president of the far-left Democratic Coalition (Demokratikus Koalíció) party compared the act of displaying cross-pattern flags to the 'violent Islamisation in Turkey'.
Soltész denounced these comments as hurtful to several million Christian people. They neglect and mock how Christians have been persecuted in the Middle East, the Minister added.