Hungary | MPs with Maja T.: "So that attention doesn't drop"

An inter-party delegation of three members of the Bundestag – Sebastian Roloff (SPD), Helge Limburg (Greens), and Luke Hoß (The Left) – visited the Thuringian anti-fascist Maja T. in a Hungarian prison hospital on Monday and reported on the visit at a press conference on Tuesday. The initiative came from the Left Party after T. ended a 40-day hunger strike last week.

A year ago, the non-binary activist was taken from Dresden prison to Hungary in a lightning nighttime operation by police helicopter. The Berlin Higher Regional Court approved the extradition, and the following day, the Federal Constitutional Court declared it unlawful in summary proceedings – albeit too late. In subsequent main proceedings, the measure was also classified as unconstitutional and a violation of the prohibition of torture in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

The two-hour visit by the three MPs confirmed reports of appalling detention conditions for Maja T. – despite Hungary's assurances to the contrary during the extradition proceedings at the request of the Higher Regional Court. The Hungarian guarantees of human rights-compliant treatment given prior to the extradition are "worthless," according to Luke Hoß. The imprisoned activist is typing her fingers to the bone because no typewriter is permitted. Her request to complete her high school diploma in order to begin a distance learning course after a prison sentence has also been denied.

The court suspected a continuing risk of escape and reoffending because Maja T. was "involved in left-wing structures" that also collected money.

Regarding the circumstances of the lightning extradition, Limburg said: "I am not aware of any comparable case in which a transfer to another European state took place with such speed." The timing suggests that the Federal Constitutional Court's emergency ruling was intended to be anticipated.

A recent report by the "Taz" newspaper confirms this: Eight days before the court hearing, Berlin and Saxony were already planning the extradition under "strict secrecy" to forestall "violent protests." While all authorities were immediately informed, Maja's defense attorneys only learned of the court order after work. At 2 a.m., Maja was taken from her cell – even her father, Wolfram Jarosch, was unaware of this and waited in vain outside the Dresden prison early that morning.

The members of parliament are now calling for a comprehensive political review of the events. The states involved, Saxony and Berlin, must contribute to the investigation. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) is being urged to push harder for the return of the refugees .

The German government has "understood the seriousness of the situation," SPD politician Roloff suggested. Last Tuesday, Géza Andreas von Geyr, a State Secretary at the German Foreign Office, reportedly made a representation to the government in Budapest. However, on Platform X, Julia Gross, German Ambassador to Budapest, speaks a different language: According to the report, von Geyr met with Hungarian ministers and a State Secretary. "His message: unity is the key," the German diplomat wrote.

The Left wants to continue its visits to Maja T. so that "attention doesn't dwindle during the summer lull," said Hoß. Limburg and Roloff also announced further trips to Hungary to maintain pressure on the federal government.

Meanwhile, father Wolfram Jarosch continues to advocate for her repatriation. "I call on the German Foreign Minister, Dr. Wadephuhl, and the President of Hungary, Dr. Sulyok Tamás, to end Maja's solitary confinement and facilitate her immediate return to Germany," the Jena biology teacher wrote on Monday. Jarosch had already submitted a petition with over 100,000 signatures to the German Foreign Office. He described the trial in Hungary as "revenge justice."

After a protest march on foot from Jena to Berlin, Jarosch is currently walking 800 kilometers from Dresden to Budapest, starving – as a "commitment to justice." He will arrive in Austria's capital on Thursday and then plans to continue on to Budapest via Bratislava.

Jarosch has also been met with resistance from the Hungarian authorities: On Friday, the Budapest City Court rejected a request to release Maja T. from house arrest because she "shows no sign of voluntary submission." Supporters and her father had already rented an apartment for her possible release from prison and declared they could pay bail.

The court, however, suspected a continued risk of escape and reoffending, as Maja T. was "involved in left-wing structures" that also collected money, reports the solidarity group BASC . Family support and public rallies also confirmed this. Furthermore, the accused did not surrender voluntarily in Germany and publicly emphasized that Hungary had no jurisdiction due to the illegal extradition. According to authorities, the high sentence of up to 24 years increases the risk that Maja T. will evade proceedings – only pretrial detention can counteract this.