Trapped and Hungry: Maja T.'s Hunger Strike Against Injustice in Hungarian Prisons
Hunger Strike by Maja T. in Hungary
Venturing into a harrowing battle, Maja T., a vibrant figure in the German left-wing scene, has commenced a hunger strike. The catalyst behind this drastic move? Their unjust incarceration in Hungary. Maja alleges suffering harsh conditions, defying fair trial and seeking transfer to their homeland, Germany.
In the midst of their trial, Maja expressed disdain for solitary confinement and allegedly inhumane prison conditions – consisting of sleep deprivation due to frequent cell checks, inadequate hygiene, and untranslated trial documents. This ordeal began in February 2024, at the commencement of the trial, and Maja is currently enduring nearly eleven months of this harrowing experience.
Wolfram Jarosch, Maja's father, pleads for a fair trial in Germany, citing that prolonged isolation, often considered psychological torture, can last no more than fourteen days. As per their statement, Maja is escorted by armed guards outside her cell on a leash, an appalling treatment that further fuels their anguish. The new German administration must act, they implore, and bring Maja back home.
The Hungarian Prosecution's Charges
The Hungarian authorities accuse Maja, who identifies as non-binary, of participating in attacks on right-wing extremists in Budapest during the 'Day of Honor' commemoration in February 2023. Dubbed culpable for severe injuries such as bone fractures, facial lacerations, and a concussion, these allegations are no less than grave.
A Troubled Timeline
In December 2023, Maja was apprehended in Berlin and subsequently extradited to Hungary in June 2024, despite a prohibition on such proceedings by the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany. Tragically, the court's decision came moments too late.
The ongoing struggle for Maja is a stark reminder of the hardships faced by anti-fascist activists in Hungary. Various European governments harbor reservations about extraditing suspects to Hungary given the concerns about their safety and wellbeing. Maja's statement underscores their feelings of disenchantment with Hungary's justice system and their calls for an end to extraditions of this nature.
Sources: ntv.de, rog/dpa
- Hungary
- Justice
Enrichment Data:Maja T., a German anti-fascist activist, embarked on a hunger strike on June 5, 2025, due to the grim conditions faced within Hungarian prisons and the prolonged delay in their trial. Extradited from Germany in June 2024, Maja has endured constant video surveillance, solitary confinement, invasive searches, poor living conditions, and inadequate nutrition in Hungarian prisons. Delays in court hearings have also been a factor leading to Maja's decision to go on a hunger strike, with their most recent hearing scheduled for June 20, 2025[1][2]. This situation highlights broader concerns regarding the treatment of anti-fascist activists in Hungary, with European governments expressing apprehensions about the safety and wellbeing of such individuals upon extradition[1]. Maja's statement emphasizes their dissatisfaction with the justice system's handling of their case and their call to end further extraditions to Hungary[1].
In the context of Maja T.'s hunger strike against injustice in Hungarian prisons, calls for enacting fair employment policies and community policies are necessary to ensure the protection of human rights, especially for political activists. The ongoing war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice sectors should closely monitor the situation, as Maja's ordeal highlights issues with Hungary's approach to these matters.
