The YCL welcomes the legalisation of the Czech Young Communist League on Wednesday 27th January. The KSM was banned in 2007 for its support of collective ownership of the means of production – private property being enshrined in the Czech Republic’s constitution. 

“The decision by the Municipal Court of Prague is a fantastic result for democratic forces in the Czech Republic,” said YCL International Secretary Charlie May, “at a time where we are seeing a huge anti-communist backlash across Europe – with the banning of the Red Star in Hungary, fresh bans and the possibility of fines for the possession of communist symbols in Poland, the desecration of the graves of partisans in the Baltic States and the attempted equation of the ‘crimes of communism’ with Nazism and fascism – this comes as a welcome development.”

YCL General Secretary Joanne Stevenson congratulated the KSM on its legalisation, “the fantastic work of the KSM operating under conditions of illegality is truly impressive, continuing to work amongst the youth and winning them to a progressive outlook. The revoking of the ban on the KSM shows the strength of this campaigning. We should also congratulate the tireless work of the representatives of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) in the Czech Parliament that has led to raising awareness of this within the Czech Republic.”

In addition to the work of Communists within the Czech Republic the campaign against the ban attracted the support of thousands of progressives and democrats across the world. “The mobilisation against this crass attack on the democratic rights of the Czech people across Britain, Europe and the world undoubtedly pushed the hand of the Czech courts in the struggle for the recognition of this legitimate youth organisation,” added Charlie May, “The revoking of this ban shows the importance of international solidarity in fighting against anti-democratic and anti-communist attacks.”