Hungary: Town Planning Statue in Honor of Anti-Semitic Minister

Via Artuz 7:

Municipal leaders in the Hungarian city of Székesfehérvár have plans to erect a statue honoring a well-known anti-Semitic minister in power during World War II.

Funding for the life-size bronze statue of Bálint Homan, who served as Minister of Religion and Education between both 1932-1938 and 1939-1942, is being provided in a large part through a grant from the Hungarian Justice Ministry.

Homan, a noted historian before coming to politics in the 1930s, took part in legislation against Jews after the German occupation of Hungary in 1944. He died in prison in 1951, serving time for war crimes charges.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) has strongly condemned the statue, urging authorities in Székesfehérvár to abandon the project.