On April 7, 2026, a discussion event titled Eternal Suffering, Eternal Name took place in Banská Bystrica, at the premises of the Atrium civic association. 

As stated in the event announcement, the discussion aimed to “create space for deeper, historically and morally grounded reflection” and to open up questions that often remain on the margins of public debate. These included the nature of terror, the meaning of memory, the responsibility of democracies, and the boundary between defending rights and relativising violence. The discussion was also intended to focus on “truth, discernment, and the courage to think even where public discourse encourages simplified judgments.” 

These themes were explored by humanitarian worker Jana Ridegová and political scientist Grigorij Mesežnikov. The debate was moderated by Andrej Bán, reporter and photographer for Denník N. The event was opened by Zuzana Janíčková, civic activist, founder and coordinator of the Centre for Material Aid for Refugees, and a member of the Not in Our Town platform and the Atrium BB organisation. 

The discussion began with a presentation of the book On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel, Hamas and the Future of the West by British journalist and essayist Douglas Murray, published in Slovak translation in 2025 by the Bratislava-based Mamaš Publishing House. The book offers a factual and personal account of the aftermath of the attacks carried out by Hamas militants from Gaza against Israel, the subsequent military response by Israel, and the reactions within Western societies. It also reflects on the rise of radical pro-Palestinian movements in the West and the broader implications for democratic values and public discourse. 

The discussion then moved on to wider geopolitical and societal issues, including the course and outcomes of military operations involving the United States and Israel in relation to Iran, as well as the responses to these events in international and Slovak media. Participants also addressed the situation within immigrant communities in Western countries, challenges related to the integration of migrants in Europe, and manifestations of anti-Semitism in the public life of democratic societies, including Slovakia.













From the right to the left: Andrej Bán, Grigorij Mesežnikov, Jana Ridegová, Zuzana Janíčková, Matúš Janíček.