A German activist has been sentenced to eight years in a Hungarian prison for assaulting right-wing extremists and for being a member 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 in the lead-up to an annual commemoration of Nazi soldiers in Budapest.
But supporters have raised concerns over whether Maja T., who identifies as non-binary, could receive a fair trial in the Hungarian court, because the country legally recognises only two genders and Pride marches are banned.
Last year, Germany's Constitutional Court found Maja T. could face discriminatory treatment and said an extradition should not proceed.
However, the ruling came too late to stop the handover, as police in Germany had already delivered Maja T. to Hungarian authorities by helicopter in an overnight operation in 2024.
The 25-year-old did not comment on the allegations during the trial and the verdict is subject to appeal.
In February 2023, far-right groups from across Europe gathered in Budapest to commemorate the anniversary of the end of the Second World War, known as the Day of Honour. This event marked an attempt in 1945 by the German Wehrmacht, the Waffen-SS, and their Hungarian collaborators to break through a Soviet siege of the city.
The commemoration was tolerated by the Hungarian authorities, and between 9 and 11 February 2023, about 20 alleged left-wing extremists from Antifa Ost launched attacks against individuals they believed were participating in the event.
Officials have reported injuries to nine people, with four categorized as serious. Prosecutors indicated Maja T. was involved in two assaults and part of a criminal organisation.
German MEP Martin Schirdewan from the socialist Die Linke party condemned the trial as a political show trial
, suggesting the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is exploiting Maja T.'s case for political gain. Eight years in prison for Maja T. is disproportionate. This is not about justice, but about setting a political example
, he remarked.
Meanwhile, trials of other Antifa Ost members continue in German courts, focusing on the violent incidents in Budapest and other occurrences in Germany.
Hungary categorizes Antifa Ost as a terrorist group, a designation that has been mirrored by the United States, leading to restrictions on group members regarding entry and support within the US.
In Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has advocated for a ban on Antifa Ost.
