Maja T.: German Activist Sentenced in Hungary for Extreme Left Violence

Thu Feb 05 2026 01:27:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Maja T., a German non-binary activist, receives an eight-year prison sentence in Hungary for assaults tied to far-left extremism, raising concerns over legal proceedings and human rights.

A German activist known as Maja T. was sentenced to eight years in a Hungarian prison for her involvement in violent assaults during a Nazi commemoration. Maja, a member of the extreme left group Antifa Ost, faces challenges regarding fair trial standards in a country that does not recognize non-binary identities. Supporters argue that the trial was politically motivated. The incident has attracted significant media interest, with ongoing discussions about freedom of expression and gender recognition in Hungary.

Maja T.: German Activist Sentenced in Hungary for Extreme Left Violence

Maja T., a German activist, has been sentenced to eight years in a Hungarian prison for assaulting right-wing extremists and being part 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, particularly in relation to an annual commemoration of Nazi soldiers in Budapest.

Supporters of Maja T. have expressed concern over the possibility of a fair trial in Hungary, given the country’s legal recognition of only two genders and the prohibition of Pride marches.

Germany's Constitutional Court previously found that Maja T. could face discriminatory treatment, leading to objections against her extradition. However, the ruling arrived too late, as Hungarian authorities had already received Maja T. earlier in 2024 in a police operation.

The activist did not comment during the trial, which is still under appeal.

Political Context and Reactions

The case has drawn significant political criticism. German MEP Martin Schirdewan called the proceedings a political show trial, accusing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of leveraging the trial for electoral purposes. Eight years in prison for Maja T. is disproportionate, Schirdewan asserted, emphasizing that the situation is about setting a political precedent rather than delivering justice.

Antifa Ost, categorized as a terrorist group by Hungary, is central to ongoing investigations regarding violent incidents, including those involving attacks against individuals believed to have participated in the commemoration of Nazi soldiers held in February.

The European far-right has exploited this incident to call for outright bans of Antifa Ost while highlighting the contrasts in how governments handle different types of far-right and far-left extremism.