Following Russia, Hungary too target ISKCON

Following Russia, Hungary is also on the path to target ISKCON and other religoooooous minorities to support Christianity.According to the new law on Religious Communities, due to take effect from 1 January Krishna community lose both its official religious status and its land. The law passed this July recognises only the Reformed, Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox churches, as well as the Jewish community.

A Hare Krishna press release said the law is “not only unfair but is against the purpose of the land laws”. These stipulate that only private individuals, the state and registered churches may own arable land.

The Hare Krishna community is Hungary’s largest eco-village, home to 300 monks and their families on the 270 hectares of arable land it owns in Somogyvámos south of Lake Balaton. The organisations whose applications for religious status are rejected risk seeing their land and real estate become state property.

The Hungarian Society for Krishna Consciousness is the main representative of the Hindu world religion in Hungary. The Krishna-devotees are known for their exemplary religious practices, dedication to distributing knowledge of eternal spiritual values and pure, exemplary lifestyles; their efforts and achievements in assisting underprivileged people, as well as in fighting environmental problems and promoting sustainability are also well known and valued worldwide.

Their Krishna-valley farm has brought hundreds of thousands of tourists and more international recognition for Hungary. We are urging the Hungarian Parliament to make sure their lands, monks and sacred cows are protected, and their invaluable services to the society are uninterrupted.

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