VOX-Pol Stands with CEU

Posted on April 4, 2017
 Update 05/04/2017
Yesterday, 4 April 2017, the Hungarian parliament passed the amendment to the Higher Education law that makes the operation of Central European University impossible or in permanent threat in Hungary. With all members of the ruling Fidesz party of Viktor Orban voting a mandatory “yes”, the law passed with 123 votes for and 38 votes against. What will ensue now seems to be a legal fight and a search for a compromise with a government that boasts about its fight against the “enemies of Hungary” such as the founder of CEU George Soros and his “Jewish money”.

 

You can read the latest CEU press release here

 

Below is the text of an e-mail disseminated by, VOX-Pol partner, Central European University’s Center for Media, Data and Society. It is written in response to Hungarian government pressure to close the university and violate the civic space.

Support VOX-Pol and CEU on Twitter through the use of #istandwithCEU and #aCEUvalvagyok

 

 

Dear Friends,

As you may be aware, the Hungarian government is trying to force the closure of Central European University, home institution of our Center for Media, Data and Society.

CEU is reaching out to friends and colleagues around the world for support to face down this threat. The University has set up a webpage, https://www.ceu.edu/istandwithceu that includes a draft letter and contact information for emailing letters of solidarity to the Hungarian government. Please consider sending a letter of support, either individual or institutional. We would also welcome public statements.

We have been immensely grateful for the amazing support CEU has received over the past days.  As of this morning, close to 90,000 academics and private citizens, including 17 Nobel laureates have joined in solidarity with CEU, and more than 1,000 letters and a 33,000-strong petition are being delivered to government officials to champion academic freedom.

We need your help in promoting this issue and sharing it with your friends, colleagues and networks around the world. There can be no doubt that this is a politically motivated attack on civil society, free expression, critical thinking, and academic freedom. CEU’s President and Rector has publicly stated that the proposed legislation from the Hungarian government, which would make it impossible for us to exist, amounts to “political vandalism.”

We have never been more proud to be a part of CEU and your expressions of solidarity and support would mean a lot to us.

Many thanks,

The team of the Center for Media, Data and Society

More information:

CEU official response
NY Times article
Foreign Policy article
US State Department`s response
Op-ed by Michael Ignatieff, Rector of CEU in NY Times

Leave a Reply