Jena Rally: Thousands Demand the Return of Maja T. from Hungarian Solitary Confinement
Large-scale participation in a left-wing protest: Three law enforcement officers sustained injuries
A massive protest of over 5,000 people took place in Jena on Saturday, calling for the return of resident Maja T. from Hungary where they've been in solitary confinement. The demonstrators denounced the federal government for failing to bring Maja back and voiced their concerns about Maja's well-being.
June 14, 2025, 7:00 PM | THÜRINGEN JOURNAL
Insights
Maja T., a German non-binary activist, initially extradited from Germany to Hungary in June 2024, has faced harsh prison conditions, including solitary confinement and prolonged video surveillance. Maja announced a hunger strike on June 5th, as a protest against these unhumane conditions and an attempt to be returned to Germany. The case has escalated and attracted international attention, with protests and solidarity events organized by anarchist and anti-fascist groups worldwide.
Demo in Jena: Showdown Against Right-Wing Extremism
During the protest, participants set off pyrotechnics and three police officers were injured. Despite this, speeches denouncing right-wing extremism and expressing solidarity with the "Budapest Complex" defendants were well-received. The father of one of the accused urged non-violence while condemning the poor conditions Maja has been subjected to in Hungary.
Protest Route Shortened: Scorching Temperatures Affect Participants
Due to the sweltering heat, the protest route was shortened. Some participants were exhausted, with temperatures reaching 33 degrees at the city observatory at 5 p.m.
Federal Constitutional Court: Maja T.'s Extradition to Hungary was Unlawful
While the specifics of Maja's return to Germany remain unclear, the Federal Constitutional Court has declared that the initial extradition was unlawful.
Timeline of Events
- June 2024: Maja T. extradited to Hungary
- August 2024: Federal Constitutional Court catches wind of Maja's extradition
- February 21, 2025: Trial in Hungary commences
- June 5, 2025: Maja T. announces a hunger strike
- June 14, 2025: Thousands take to the streets in Jena to demand Maja's return
Maja T.'s ongoing hunger strike and the protests that followed highlight the urgent need for attention to their case and the unjust legal and physical challenges faced by queer and non-binary activists in Hungary and beyond.
- The Jena rally, protesting Maja T.'s solitary confinement in Hungary, was not just a local issue, but garnered interest from various anarchist and anti-fascist groups worldwide, becoming a topic of general-news discussion.
- Amidst the calls for Maja T.'s return from Hungary, the father of one of the accused emphasized the importance of non-violence during the Jena protest, showing that the issue of politics extends beyond legal proceedings and into societal norms and behaviors.
