A German activist has been handed an eight-year prison sentence in Hungary for engaging in violent assaults against right-wing extremists. The verdict also includes a conviction for membership in an extreme left-wing organization.
The individual, identified as Maja T., aged 25, was found guilty of participating in assaults carried out by the group Antifa Ost. These actions occurred in Budapest leading up to an annual event commemorating Nazi soldiers.
Concerns have been raised by supporters regarding the fairness of Maja T.’s trial in Hungary. These concerns stem from the country’s legal framework, which recognizes only two genders, and the prohibition of Pride marches. Maja T. identifies as non-binary.
Last year, Germany’s Constitutional Court had previously acknowledged the potential for Maja T. to face discriminatory treatment. The court had consequently ruled against extradition at that time.
However, this ruling came too late to prevent the extradition. Hungarian authorities had already taken custody of Maja T., with the individual being transported from Germany by helicopter in an overnight operation during 2024.
During the trial, Maja T. made no comment on the allegations. The current verdict remains subject to an appeal process.
Antifa Ost and the Budapest Commemoration
In February 2023, far-right groups convened in Budapest to mark the anniversary of the Second World War’s conclusion. This event, often referred to as the “Day of Honour,” commemorates a German Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS, and Hungarian collaborators’ 1945 attempt to break through a Soviet siege of the city.
The Hungarian authorities permit this commemoration to take place.
From February 9 to 11, 2023, approximately 20 individuals, identified as alleged left-wing extremists affiliated with Antifa Ost, engaged in attacks across multiple locations in Budapest. Antifa Ost is described as a militant, multinational far-left group also known colloquially as the “hammer gang.” Their alleged methods of assault included the use of batons, rubber hammers, and pepper spray.
Authorities stated that the attackers believed their targets had participated in the aforementioned commemoration.
The incidents resulted in nine injuries, with four individuals sustaining serious harm.
Prosecutors maintained that Maja T. was involved in two of these attacks and was a member of a criminal organization.
Political Reactions and Further Proceedings
Martin Schirdewan, a German Member of the European Parliament from the socialist Die Linke party, characterized the Hungarian trial as a “political show trial.” He further asserted that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had “deliberately exploited this trial for his election campaign.”
“Eight years in prison for Maja T. is disproportionate,” Schirdewan stated in a public comment. “This is not about justice, but about setting a political example.”
Legal proceedings are ongoing in Germany for other members of Antifa Ost. These trials are being conducted in courts located in Düsseldorf and Dresden.
The focus of these German trials is on the violence that occurred in Budapest, as well as other incidents within Germany.
Hungary has designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist group. This designation aligns with actions taken by the United States, which, under the Trump administration, classified the group as such in November as part of broader efforts to curb Antifa activism.
The US designation imposes restrictions, including barring group members from entering the country, freezing any assets they may hold within the US, and criminalizing the provision of material support to the organization.
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has publicly called for Antifa Ost to be banned within Germany.