Budapest Complex | Maja T.: "I have dignity, and I will preserve it"

The trial against anti-fascist activist Maja T. and other defendants entered its next round on Friday. The day before, T. had begun a hunger strike in response to the prison conditions and demanding to be allowed to return to Germany . The court was originally scheduled to rule on a request for house arrest on Wednesday, the second day of the trial, but the decision was postponed until June 20.

For the numerous witnesses present on the third day of the trial, Friday, the hunger strike was the focus. In an almost poetic statement in court, T. once again exposed the inhumane conditions to which she has been subjected for almost a year in Hungarian solitary confinement. She was being psychologically worn down by the deprivation of sunlight, constant surveillance, omnipresent violence, and the feeling that, as a queer person, she was not even existentially recognized by the Hungarian constitution. Her statement ended with the words: "I can no longer play this game and can no longer endure these injustices. I have dignity, and I will preserve it." After the statement ended, a large part of the audience rose and chanted "Free Maja." The judge called on the audience to calm down and threatened to expel her if this happened again.

The witness statements were important for the legal part of the trial. Three Polish citizens were questioned. They were the Polish neo-Nazis Rafal Robert B., Justyna Malgorzata B., and Bartlomiej Fabian Maksymilian W. They all stated in unison that they were merely present as tourists. It was purely by chance that all three were in Budapest at the time of the right-wing extremist "Day of Honor" event. However, research by antifa-info.net suggests that these statements should be treated with at least some skepticism. All three are supporters of the far-right party Ruch Narodowy (National Movement). This party organizes the annual "Independence Marches" in Warsaw. The party maintains close ties to the Hungarian far-right party Jobbik, according to antifa-info.net.

Early in the morning, police had cordoned off a large area of ​​the street in front of the courthouse. A rally involving about ten members of the far-right youth movement of the 64 counties took place directly in front of the entrance. They held a banner reading "Antifa scum attacking from behind. Get out of our country." A crossed-out Antifa symbol was emblazoned on the side next to the banner. Before, during, and after the trial, relatives and visitors expressing solidarity with T. were subjected to anti-queer insults, called "Reds," "communist bastards," and "Antifa pigs," and filmed. The police did not intervene; in fact, they stood by, rather bored, watching the scene.

On the opposite side, in front of the barriers, around 50 supporters of T. gathered – as on Wednesday, primarily activists from Germany, Austria, and Italy. During the break in the proceedings, Jena rapper True Lu performed, among other songs, his solidarity track "TH bis BP" (meaning Thuringia to Budapest).

Before the trial began, two participants in the right-wing rally attempted to blend in with the left-wing rally to conduct interviews. When they were recognized, anti-fascists loudly drew attention to them. One of the two right-wing influencers continued to provoke from the sidelines of the rally, shouting things like, "Who's brave enough to give an interview?" These provocations were also tacitly tolerated.

The day before, Maja T.'s father and other family members had visited her in prison. "Maja is doing well, considering the circumstances. Of course, everything is very exciting – the hunger strike and the court days," the father told "nd." "So far, the hunger strike hasn't had any noticeable effects. Of course, as a father, I'm worried – a hunger strike can endanger one's life and well-being." The hunger strike, he said, was "the last, desperate means" for T. to defend himself against "this psychological torture."

Martin Schirdewan and Carola Rackete, members of the Left Party's European Parliament, also expressed deep concern. Schirdewan stated in a press release: "It is shocking that a young person has to resort to such drastic measures to be heard by the federal government." His party colleague Rakete believes the federal government bears responsibility, as it shared responsibility for the hunger strike through its inaction: "If Friedrich Merz and Lars Klingbeil seriously want to distance themselves from right-wing extremists and stand up for democratic values, then they cannot stand idly by."

For T.'s father, it is clear that the task now is to create a large public awareness and put pressure on the German federal government - especially on the new Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul - to finally take steps towards Maja's return to Germany.