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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Bela Szandelszky

To wrap, or not to wrap? Hungarian bookstores face fines over closed packaging for LGBTQ+ books

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

In a snug, wood-paneled Jewish bookstore in Hungary's capital, Eva Redai carefully climbed the rungs of a ladder to arrange titles on the shelves. Among the books were volumes bound in plastic wrapping — titles containing LGBTQ+ content that the country's right-wing government has deemed unsuitable for minors under 18.

The 76-year-old has run the Láng Téka bookstore in central Budapest for nearly 35 years, since just before Hungary's democratic transition from state socialism. But never, until now, has she needed to segregate the books she sells to avoid violating a government ban.

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