German Anti-Fascist Maja T. Sentenced to Eight Years in Hungarian Court
Budapest, Hungary — A Budapest court has sentenced German anti-fascist activist Maja T. to eight years in prison for her involvement in a series of violent attacks on individuals suspected of participating in a far-right rally in February 2023. The verdict, delivered by the Budapest City Court on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, found the 25-year-old guilty of attempted life-threatening bodily harm and membership in a criminal organization. The ruling marks a significant development in a case that has drawn international attention and sparked debate over political activism, judicial fairness, and cross-border legal cooperation within the European Union.
The Verdict and Its Legal Ramifications
Judge Jozsef Sos, presiding over the Budapest City Court, deemed it proven that Maja T. was involved in the assaults. The conviction carries an eight-year prison sentence, which cannot be suspended on probation. This first-instance verdict, however, is not yet legally binding and remains open to appeal, offering a potential avenue for the defense to challenge the ruling. Prosecutors had initially sought a significantly harsher sentence of 24 years, while the defense had consistently argued for an acquittal. The charges stemmed from a series of incidents in February 2023, where a group of suspected left-wing extremists targeted individuals believed to be attending the annual "Day of Honour" commemoration in Budapest.
Context of the Budapest Attacks and "Day of Honour"
The attacks in question occurred between February 9 and 11, 2023, involving approximately 20 German and other suspected left-wing extremists. These individuals allegedly assaulted people with weapons such as telescopic batons, rubber hammers, and pepper spray across five different locations in the Hungarian capital. Nine people were reportedly injured in these incidents, four of whom sustained serious injuries, with some described as potentially life-threatening. Maja T. was accused of involvement in two of these specific attacks.
The targets of these assaults were reportedly participants in the "Day of Honour" event, an annual gathering in Budapest that commemorates a failed breakout attempt by Nazi and allied Hungarian soldiers during the Soviet siege of the city in 1945. The event is recognized as one of the largest neo-Nazi rallies in Europe, drawing far-right militants from across the continent. While Hungarian authorities tolerate the "Day of Honour," counter-demonstrations against such far-right gatherings have sometimes escalated into violence.
Controversial Extradition and Detention Conditions
Maja T.'s journey to a Hungarian courtroom was itself fraught with controversy. Arrested in Berlin in December 2023 under a European arrest warrant, her extradition to Hungary in December 2024 (or June 2024, sources vary) proceeded despite significant legal and humanitarian concerns. Germany's Constitutional Court had previously ruled the extradition unlawful, citing concerns that Maja T., who identifies as non-binary, might face inhumane or degrading treatment and discriminatory conditions in Hungarian custody. However, the extradition was carried out rapidly, with German police transferring Maja T. to Hungarian authorities by helicopter in an operation reportedly intended to prevent "disturbances" from left-wing activists. Some reports suggest this swift action prevented further legal intervention by the German High Court.
During her detention in Hungary, Maja T. and her supporters have reported harsh conditions, including isolation, cells without adequate light, poor food, limited family visits, and insufficient medical care. In June 2025, Maja T. undertook a 40-day hunger strike to protest what she termed "unlawful handover" and "inhumane" prison conditions, an allegation denied by the Hungarian prison service. The case also highlighted a schism within the EU, as Italian and French courts had previously refused to extradite other suspects linked to the Budapest attacks to Hungary, citing risks of "inhumane treatment."
Political Undertones and Broader Implications
The trial has been underscored by political rhetoric from the outset. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and other government officials have repeatedly called for harsh punishment for those involved in the attacks, and Orbán's government has previously classified "Antifa" as a terrorist organization. Maja T.'s father, Wolfram Jarosch, publicly denounced the trial as a "political trial" aimed at "winning votes" for Orbán, portraying Maja T. as an "ideal enemy" for the socially conservative Hungarian government. Supporters of Maja T. have been reportedly barred from attending the trial or staging protests, further fueling claims of political motivation.
Maja T. herself, during the trial, stated, "I am being prosecuted by a European state because I am an anti-fascist." This assertion, combined with Hungary's official recognition of only two legal genders and its stance on LGBTQ+ rights, has added another layer of complexity to the case, reinforcing concerns about discriminatory treatment. The severe sentence handed down by the Hungarian court is seen by some human rights groups as part of a broader crackdown on activist groups in Europe and a challenge to the freedom of dissent.
The conviction of Maja T. in Budapest represents a culmination of a contentious legal process, drawing sharp contrasts in judicial approaches and political ideologies across Europe. While the Hungarian court has issued its judgment, the ongoing potential for appeal and the broader political context surrounding the case suggest that the implications of this verdict will continue to be debated. The outcome underscores the tensions between national sovereignty, international legal norms, and the protection of individual rights, particularly in politically charged cases involving activism and protest.
