Here’s a thing you can do. George Szirtes writes:
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – please sign if you support it.
“Dear Mr Tajani,
I see my fellow Booker Prize winner, the translator Ottilie Mulzet has already written to you about the disgraceful law intended to close the Central European University in Budapest. The law, intended for this one specific purpose, is the latest of steps taken by Viktor Orbán to close out democratic institutions in the country, including press, media and NGOs. Please note I do not say opposition institutions since the CEU is in no way a political opponent of the government. It is simply an independent university.
This evening the president of the country, János Áder, has signed the law and for the second night students are out there, protesting. They are the last bastion against the establishment of a prospective authoritarian one-party state.
It will be a serious blot on the EU’s conscience to permit this act of the Orbán government to pass without response. It reduces Europe. It weakens it. It takes it one step further to the edge of disintegration.
We can watch and hear the students on YouTube as I write this. We implore you to address this matter with the seriousness due to it.
George Szirtes FRSL,FEA
To sign it go to his post and comment to that effect.
I know some of you don’t use Facebook so if you’d like I can add your names if you say so here.
Comments
11 responses to “The disgraceful law intended to close the Central European University in Budapest”
Please add my name
And mine too, please. (You have it on file.)
It would be kind of you to add my name, please do.
Thanks.
And mine.
Thank you all. George has updated today to invite us to add occupations – that is, he said “If anyone wants to add one short line, eg writer / poet / scholar / teacher / scientist or if you want to add the name of your institution or workplace and haven’t done so, please do send. I doubt it’s necessary.” So do or don’t – email me if you want it private.
Looks like you caught me totally…except playwright more than poet.
Heh. Shall I go with playwright / teacher / scientist?
(I figure playwright makes writer redundant.)
Sure, that would be fine. I write novels, too, but I am actually a professional playwright, so, sure.
Scientist works for me. I was one once and my current occupation would unambiguously identify me.
He’s now adding names via his blog so you can add yourselves there directly.
http://georgeszirtes.blogspot.ie/2017/04/the-closing-of-ceu-closing-of-hungary.html