Anniversary of the Madéfalva massacre commemorated in Romania
Balázs Hankó, the minister of culture and innovation, on Tuesday attended a commemoration of the Madefalva Massacre in Siculeni (Madéfalva), Romania, in which hundreds of Szekler Hungarians were slain by Austrian troops in 1764.
On January 7, 1764, the troops of Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, retaliated for a protest by some 2,500 Szeklers who refused to serve in the Austrian army under command in German.
“The martyrs of Madéfalva serve as a reminder that we should always have the courage to stand up for our rights and our truth,” Hankó said in his speech at the Siculicidium memorial.
“Hungarians today have to fight to ensure that no decisions about them are made without them and to ensure that everyone belonging to the Hungarian nation feels that they belong somewhere, and that their way of life, language, faith and rights are secure,” he added.
Barna Tánczos, Romania’s finance minister, said the Szekler people could be counted on today just as they could be in the past. The politician from the Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania (RMDSZ) also pointed out that the Szeklers joined the army of the monarchy, which slaughtered their ancestors because they were not driven by revenge and anger but by wisdom and common sense. He said that those present could look back on the past year and be proud of their community for having shown its strength in an election year.
“We have shown that we are still a strong community. A community to be reckoned with, but a community that can be counted on at any time in Romania.”
– he said.
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