On March 10, the Szekler community and Hungarians around the world who stand in solidarity with them commemorate the Szekler martyrs who were executed in 1854. Their sacrifice reminds us that every generation must stand up again and again for self-determination. “Today, this day is still a firm and clear stand for the freedom, dignity, and right to autonomy of the Szekler community,” stated Katalin Szili, the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor, in a Facebook post on Thuesday.
The Szekler community continues to demand, through democratic means, respect for its historical rights and the territorial autonomy of Szeklerland. These aspirations are in line with European fundamental values and the protection of the rights of indigenous national communities, said the Chief Advisor.
Every year, Szekler Freedom Day sends a clear message: the Szekler people will not give up their language, culture, traditions, community rights, and demand for autonomy, which ensure their identity, “
she emphasized.
“All responsible-minded citizens today stand up for the legitimate aspirations of the Szekler community. Europe, for its part, would prove its credibility by recognizing its responsibility for establishing peace and stability and protecting the rights of indigenous national communities,” Katalin Szili pointed out.
“The cause of Szekler freedom is not just a Szekler cause—it is a shared European responsibility, a responsibility for creating long-term stability in Europe,” she concluded.
Fact
On March 10, people gather in Târgu-Mureș (Marosvásárhely) at the Szekler Martyrs’ Memorial, as well as at numerous locations in the Carpathian Basin and the diaspora, where people consider it important to stand up for the Szekler community in the spirit of cooperation, national solidarity, and the protection of community rights.
The commemoration has faced several obstacles over the years. Balázs Izsák, President of the Szekler National Council, recently announced that this year’s Szekler Freedom Day event in Târgu Mureș can be legally organized after receiving confirmation from the mayor’s office. Organizers plan to hold the commemoration and march to deliver their protest declaration to the Mureș County government representative, while also criticizing authorities for delays, ambiguous procedures, and what they describe as years of discriminatory administrative obstacles. They warned that if the situation continues, the case may be brought before the European Court of Human Rights or other European Union forums to ensure transparent and equal treatment under the law.
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Via Facebook; Featured photo: Facebook/Székely Nemzeti Tanács
The post Szekler Freedom Day Commemorates 1854 Martyrs and Calls for Autonomy appeared first on Hungary Today.
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