Headlines
Hungarian court jails left-wing German activist for 8 years for assault
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on February 4, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 4, 2026
Quick Summary
A Hungarian court sentenced German activist Maja T. to 8 years for assaulting far-right sympathisers. The case highlights tensions between Hungary and the EU.
Hungarian Court Sentences German Activist to 8 Years for Assault
Overview of the Case
BUDAPEST, Feb 4 (Reuters) - A German citizen was sentenced to eight years in prison by a Hungarian court on Wednesday for assaulting suspected far-right sympathisers in Budapest in 2023, as part of an anti-fascist group that had gone to Hungary to counter a far-right rally.
The German citizen, identified only as Maja T., was arrested in Berlin in December 2023 on a European arrest warrant and was subsequently transferred to Hungary.
The presiding judge found Maja T. guilty of "attempting bodily harm... as part of an organised crime group".
Background of Maja T.
According to the indictment, Maja T. was part of a far-left group that planned to take up an "ideological fight with violent attacks against sympathisers of the extremist right" with the aim of assaulting people with "various instruments capable of causing death."
The case drew international attention when Germany's Constitutional Court ruled in February 2025 that it had been unlawful to extradite Maja T., who identifies as non-binary, to Hungary, upholding her argument that the decision violated the European Union's Charter on Fundamental Rights.
Political Context and Reactions
Under Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Hungary has introduced anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including laws that Brussels says discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Authorities in Hungary - an EU member but which has clashed with Brussels on a range of issues including LGBT rights and the rule of law - have given assurances that non-binary people are not subject to discrimination or violence in prisons there.
Maja T., who was one of several individuals to go on trial over the attacks, told the court that the accusations against her were political.
The German justice ministry said it had no comment.
Legal Proceedings and Outcomes
The first accused in the trial was Italian teacher Ilaria Salis, who was released from house arrest in June 2024 after she was elected a member of the European Parliament. Prosecutors were seeking an 11-year sentence for her. Salis and her family said she was innocent.
(Reporting by Anita Komuves, additional reporting by Markus Wacket in Berlin; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Key Takeaways
- •German activist Maja T. sentenced to 8 years in Hungary.
- •Maja T. was part of an anti-fascist group targeting far-right.
- •Germany's Constitutional Court ruled extradition unlawful.
- •Hungary's policies under Viktor Orban face EU criticism.
- •International attention on the case due to political context.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hungarian court jails left-wing German activist for 8 years for assault
1What is an organized crime group?
An organized crime group is a structured group of individuals engaged in illegal activities, often for profit. These groups may operate in various sectors, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other forms of organized crime.
2What is extradition?
Extradition is the legal process by which one country surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another country. It typically involves a formal request and adherence to international treaties or agreements.
