Prisoner Maja T. sheds 14 kilos due to hunger strike in Hungarian detention facility
Maja T., a German non-binary anti-fascist activist, is currently in a critical condition in a Hungarian prison hospital, following a prolonged hunger strike that began on June 5, 2025. The activist, who is facing trial for alleged involvement in clashes against far-right activists in Budapest in 2023, could receive up to 24 years in prison.
Maja T.'s health has been rapidly deteriorating, with reports of a very critical condition from treating doctors. The low heart rate, a direct consequence of the hunger strike, has dropped to 30 beats per minute at times, increasing the risk of fainting spells and cardiac arrest. Despite this, a 24-hour ECG with continuous monitoring is not possible in the prison hospital.
The activist was initially arrested in Berlin in December 2023 and handed over to Hungary in June 2024, despite a prohibition by the Federal Constitutional Court in Germany. The court in Karlsruhe's decision came a few minutes too late to prevent Maja's transfer to Hungary.
The German government has been criticized for not intervening to return Maja to Germany, despite calls from human rights advocates and activists. Maja's father, Jarosch, is urgently demanding Maja's return to Germany, citing concerns about Maja's isolation and potential continuation of the hunger strike.
The father has also stated that a pacemaker should not be implanted against Maja's will. Currently, there is no specific information available about the potential implantation of a pacemaker for Maja T. A transfer to a civilian hospital for continuous monitoring is being considered, but Maja T. would be continuously tied to their bed.
The situation of Maja T. has raised concerns about Hungary's use of the European Arrest Warrant system for political repression and the poor conditions faced by political dissidents in Hungarian detention. German politicians from the Greens and the Left are advocating for Maja's extradition to Germany.
Maja T. is currently on trial for an alleged attack on right-wing extremists in Budapest. The court in Budapest has rejected an application for Maja's transfer to house arrest. The activist was first arrested in Berlin and has been detained in Budapest since their extradition in June 2024.
- The community is calling for immediate action in response to Maja T.'s critical health condition, emphasizing the need for an amendment to the community policy to address such urgent situations.
- In light of the deteriorating health of Maja T., concerns about the lack of effective employment policy in prisons have been raised, particularly in relation to the provision of fitness-and-exercise facilities and mental-health services.
- The activist's case has highlighted the importance of science in understanding the impact of prolonged hunger strikes on health, calling for more research in therapies-and-treatments to prevent such extreme actions.
- The rapid decline in Maja T.'s health has sparked discussions in general news about the role of politics in ensuring the protection of individual rights and the need for stricter employment policies for prison staff to ensure humane treatment of prisoners.
- The ongoing situation with Maja T. has shed light on the issue of crime-and-justice in Hungarian detention centers, leading to questions about the implementation of nutrition policies and weight-management programs for political dissidents.
