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154 KRISZTINA BARCSA — ANDRÁS MÁTÉ-TÓTH — SÁRA HEIDL
refugee camps." In the second period, besides Miklós Beer, Tamás Fabiny, bishop
of the Northern Church District of the Hungarian Evangelical Lutheran Church,
was one of the most significant participants of the public discourse. He made several
statements on the topic. He emphasized more than once that "it would be good
if everyone did their duty: politicians, economists, police officers, secret agents,
and the churches. Everyone must do their own job.”** He pointed out he does not
want to become a political factor, nor is he interested in political connections.”
However, regarding the government’s measures, he said: “Last summer's poster
campaign was such a social indoctrination, which is not worthy of the cause, because
the government put the emphasis on the exclusivity of the otherwise important
security policy aspects while neglecting the humanitarian ones.””°
Slomó Köves, the leader of the Unified Hungarian Israelite Community, and
Andras Heisler, the chairman of the MAZSIHISZ (Alliance of Hungarian Jewish
Faith Communities) also had a divided standpoint regarding the migration crisis.
On the one hand, they both expressed increased fear and worry, because in the last
one or two decades in Western Europe Judaism has become the number one target
of fundamentalist Islamic terrorist groups. On the other hand, Kéves emphasized
they had experienced persecution, escapes, and the act of being outlawed many
times, and therefore they can identify easily with asylum seekers and needy people.
Besides, he highlighted that according to their faith, they can’t judge anyone for
those acts that they have not committed — even if they will later commit them.
He also emphasized, “instead of self-identity based on political identity, religious
identity must be strengthened” in Jewish local communities."
Heisler emphasized the necessity of strict control of immigration in 2015.
He named the European Union as primarily responsible for finding a solution
to the migration crisis. He saw the role of churches in helping those who are in
need. In 2016, his viewpoint softened a little, and he pointed out the lack of real
solutions.” He stated MAZSIHISZ is neither the opposition to nor a supporter
3 "Gáncs Péter: Plakátháborúk helyett tegye mindenki, amit tud bevándorlásügyben".
Mandiner, 2015. http://kereszteny.mandiner.hu/cikk/20150701 gancs peter plakathabo¬
ruk helyett tegye mindenki amit tud bevandorlasugyben (Accessed 6 March 2016.)
"Ha még lesz emberi arcuk... — Fabiny Tamás püspök a menekültekről". KözóSzó, 2016.
https:/kotoszo.blog.hu/2016/04/03/ ha meg lesz emberi arcuk (Accessed 9 October 2017.)
"Féltem ezt az országot a morális zülléstől — Fabiny Tamás a püspökök videójáról". KötőSzó,
2017. https://kotoszo.blog.hu/2017/07/07/fabiny_tamas_puspok (Accessed 5 January 2018.)
Velkei Tamas: “Fabiny Tamas: Legyenek jö keresztények!”. Magyar Nemzet, 14 May
2016. https://magyarnemzet.hu/archivum/belfold-archivum/fabiny-tamas-legyenek-jo¬
keresztenyek3944634/ (Accessed 4 January 2018.)
"Erdő Péter és Köves Slomó beszélgetett a Párbeszéd Házában". Magyar Kurir, 2016.
http:/www.magyarkurir.hu/hirek/erdo-peter-es-koves-slomo-beszelgetett-parbeszedhazaban
(Accessed 3 November 2017.)
“© “Heisler: Hiba volt túlságosan balra húzni". HírTv, 2016. https://hirtv.hu/ahirtvhirei_adattar/
heisler-hiba-volt-tulsagosan-balra-huzni-1363854 (Accessed 3 November 2017.)
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