Revolting: 20-year-old Hungarian man stabbed in Bratislava because he spoke Hungarian – UPDATED: protest
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Four young Hungarians went to a party in Bratislava’s historic centre. Afterwards, they wanted to grab something to eat in Šafárik Square before heading home, close to the city’s historic centre, when the problems started. A Slovak man stepped beside them, asking why they were talking in Hungary. When one of them answered that because they were Hungarians, almost tragedy happened. Local police started investigating the issue, and Paraméter could talk with eyewitnesses of the incident.
20-year-old Hungarian man stabbed in Bratislava
According to parameter.sk, a Hungarian media outlet in Slovakia, the four Hungarian young men wanted to have fun on Friday in the historic centre of the Slovakian capital. After the party was over, they wanted to buy some fast food in Šafárik Square. However, while they stood in the queue waiting for the food and chatting in Hungarian, a Slovak guy approached them, asking why they were talking in Hungarian. A 20-year-old Hungarian, the victim, replied plainly: because they were Hungarians. It seems that was a mistake.
The increasingly aggressive Slovak individual allegedly told them to go to the other side of the Danube to eat if they speak Hungarian (the other side is Hungary), which is common among extremist groups. Meanwhile, he pulled out a knife and tried to hold it to the young Hungarian man’s neck. He could not carry that out but cut his chin. Finally, the perpetrator fled the scene.
The 20-year-old victim required medical attention and was treated at an emergency room. Following the incident, he pressed charges against the perpetrator.
Was he an extremist football ultra?
Paraméter wrote that they learned about the incident from unofficial but well-informed sources. They mentioned a tattoo or image on the attacker’s neck or jacket related to the Slovan football club. Official sources did not confirm that information. However, the police are investigating not only for bodily harm and altercation but also for a hate crime committed against a member of an ethnic minority.
The victim and one of his close relatives refused to comment due to the interests of the ongoing investigation. The Bratislava 1st District Police Directorate confirmed the existence of the case and added they were investigating for hooliganism and bodily harm. A spokesperson also indicated additional sections of the criminal code referring to crimes committed with a weapon and a crime out of hatred towards members of an ethnic minority.
He can get a sentence of many years in prison
Hooliganism committed with a special motive can get you six months to three years in prison. For bodily harm, you can get 1-3 years imprisoned, provided you commit it with a weapon. Meanwhile, if you commit a hate crime against a member of a national minority, you may be brought into prison for 2-5 years.
As an American of Russian descent, I strongly condemn such actions. People should be free to converse in their own language. I grew up during the Cold War era, when hatred for all things Russian was common here. In the past, Slavs, Hungarians, and others faced discrimination here, though they had come here for a better life,
Hungarians should not have been treated like Russian war criminals.
Hungarians should not have been treated like NATO nazi ukranian war criminals.