Budapest Complex | "Save Maja Action Camp": The camp ends, the fight continues

"Camping in the middle of Berlin?" asks a young woman in broken German. She looks at the tents set up on a meadow opposite the Foreign Office in downtown Berlin. A young man clarifies: "We're not on vacation here." Indeed, there's plenty to do at the "Save Maja Action Camp."

Basti, who doesn't want his full name published in the newspaper, is very open and friendly toward everyone who approaches the tents. There are many tourists among them, but also people like Rudi Schultheiß. The retiree lives in a high-rise building on Fischerinsel, just a few steps from the Federal Foreign Office . While walking his dog, he came across the camp – and returned.

"There are often protests in front of the Foreign Ministry," Schultheiß told the "nd" newspaper. "But the young people from the Maja Camp are particularly interested in talking to passersby – even if we don't always agree." While he supports the demand to bring Maja T. back to Germany from Hungary, he says she should be brought to trial here because the allegations must be clarified," the 68-year-old says.

Juliane, who is part of the camp, emphasizes that her central demand is also to bring T. back from Budapest. To achieve prison relief in Hungary, the nonbinary anti-fascist went on a hunger strike, which she ended after more than five weeks due to imminent health risks. Maja's father, Wolfram Jarosch, is also campaigning: He is marching from Dresden to Budapest to draw attention to the demand. At the beginning of July, he already walked from Jena to Berlin, collecting numerous signatures along the way for Maja's return.

The demand is based on a decision by the Federal Constitutional Court, which declared Maja's extradition to Hungary unlawful. However, T. had already been extradited in a lightning-fast operation by then. Rudi Schultheiß doesn't understand why Maja hasn't been extradited back to Germany since then. After all, T. could also be tried here on charges that Maja, along with other anti-fascists, attacked participants in a Nazi march in Budapest.

For this reason, numerous people are being investigated in Germany, and several are in pre-trial detention. "We also demand their release and an end to the criminalization of consistent anti-fascism," emphasizes Basti from the camp. The slogans on the banners make it clear that the criticism is also directed against authorities in Germany: "Hungary is torturing, you're complicit," reads one banner.

In recent days, camp participants participated in various actions in Berlin to draw attention to Maja's situation. This included a brief occupation of the entrance area of the ZDF studio in Berlin. A few hours later, police arrested a journalist who had filmed the action for the left-wing online platform "Perspektive." He is accused of disturbing the peace.

This wasn't the only repressive measure against the camp, Basti reports. For example, the participants weren't allowed to stay overnight in the camp for the first few days. However, they were able to secure the setting up of tents where they could rest. Several events took place at the camp every day. On Friday afternoon, former RAF prisoner Margrit Schiller spoke about her struggle for improved prison conditions. This included hunger strikes.

On the same day, Maja's supporters announced that the Budapest Court of Appeal had once again rejected the possibility of house arrest. The reason given was, of all things, the hunger strike Maja began after being denied any relief from her prison conditions. "This continues the solitary confinement," the group said in a statement.

Maja's father, Wolfram Jarosch, criticizes the fact that the conditions for house arrest have been met for a year. A bail has been provided, and a suitable apartment can be rented at Maja's own expense. "It's becoming increasingly clear that this is not a fair trial, but rather revenge justice intended to break Maja," says Jarosch.

At the camp, Left Party MP Luka Hoss also discussed with participants how to strengthen solidarity with Maja. "Especially now, after Maja has ended her hunger strike, it is important that her demands are not forgotten," Basti emphasized.

In recent weeks, when Maja's life was in acute danger, solidarity actions have taken place in many German and European cities. Some groups now need a break after these turbulent days – including the Berlin activists. The camp is now coming to an end, says one participant, expressing disappointment at the response in Berlin. "We thought there would be more support here. Then we could have continued the camp longer."