In brief
A German activist, known only as Maja T., has been sentenced to eight years in a Hungarian prison for her role in violent attacks against right-wing extremists. She was convicted of participating in assaults carried out by the militant group Antifa Ost during a commemoration for Nazi soldiers in Budapest. Supporters of Maja T. fear that her non-binary identity and the political climate in Hungary may have compromised her right to a fair trial. Critics argue that the legal proceedings reflect a political agenda rather than justice, highlighting broader issues of discrimination and civil liberties in both Hungary and Germany.
A German activist has been sentenced to eight years in a Hungarian prison for assaulting right-wing extremists and for being a member of an extreme left-wing group.
The 25-year-old, identified only as Maja T., was found guilty of involvement in violent assaults by the group Antifa Ost in the lead-up to an annual commemoration of Nazi soldiers in Budapest.
But supporters have raised concerns over whether Maja T., who identifies as non-binary, could receive a fair trial in the Hungarian court, because the country legally recognises only two genders and Pride marches are banned.
Last year, Germany's Constitutional Court found Maja T. could face discriminatory treatment and said an extradition should not proceed. However, the ruling came too late to stop the handover, as police in Germany had already delivered Maja T. to Hungarian authorities by helicopter in an overnight operation in 2024.
The 25-year-old did not comment on the allegations during the trial and the verdict is subject to appeal.
Antifa Ost
Far-right groups from across Europe gathered in Budapest in February 2023 to commemorate the anniversary of the end of the Second World War, an event referred to as the Day of Honour that traces back to an attempt in 1945 by German forces and their Hungarian collaborators to break through a Soviet siege.
The commemoration has been tolerated by Hungarian authorities.
Between February 9 and 11, about 20 alleged left-wing extremists from Antifa Ost attacked individuals they believed were participating in the commemoration, using batons, rubber hammers, and pepper spray.
Maja T. was accused of being involved in two attacks and being part of a criminal organization. Nine people were injured in these incidents, four of them seriously.
Critics of the trial include German MEP Martin Schirdewan, who described the proceedings as a political show trial where Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán may have exploited the situation for electoral advantage. He argued that the eight-year sentence is disproportionate and serves to set a political example rather than deliver justice.
Trials of other Antifa Ost members are underway in German courts related to the violence in Budapest and other incidents.
Hungary classifies Antifa Ost as a terrorist group, a designation that has implications for the group's members in multiple jurisdictions, including restrictions on travel and financial support. The German far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has called for a domestic ban on Antifa Ost.
