Hungary's far-right Jobbik party has prompted criticism after holding a rally inside a former synagogue in the town of Esztergom. Jewish groups called Friday's event "disgusting", and said it was insulting to the memories of Holocaust victims. Jobbik leader Gabor Vona insisted his party didn't want to "provoke anyone, including the Jewish community".The party, which professes to protect Hungarian values, is the third largest in parliament. It regularly issues anti-Semitic statements.
Around 100 protesters gathered with candles outside the police-guarded building, which is now being used as a cultural center. Some wore a yellow star on their coats.
The demonstrators tried to form a human chain to prevent Jobbik supporters from entering the building, but were thwarted by security forces. Protest leader Agnes Drelyo said, "It is a perversion from Jobbik to organise a forum at a former synagogue."
Inside the cultural center, Vona told supporters that he had "nothing to be ashamed of". He said, "As a legal party which won the votes of around one million people in 2010, we have as much right as anyone to hold an event here."
The mayor of the town said she had asked Jobbik to choose another venue, but had no authority to block the party from holding a rally in the old synagogue.
Jobbik's deputy group leader, Marton Gyongyosi, caused outrage two years ago when he said officials of Jewish origin should be listed because they might be a "national security risk".