Budapest Complex | Maja T. stops hunger strike

After 40 days without solid food, Maja T. has ended her hunger strike in Hungarian prison. "I don't want to put any further strain on my health, because I feel that if I don't turn back now, it will soon be too late," she said in a statement on Monday.

The Thuringian woman remains in the prison hospital near the Romanian border. According to those close to her, her heart rate has temporarily dropped below 30, and permanent organ damage is possible. Hungarian authorities are said to have considered implanting a pacemaker and force-feeding her, Wolfram Jarosch, T.'s father, reported last week at a protest march from Jena to Berlin.

T. began her hunger strike at the beginning of June to force a judicial review of her prison conditions – a move she now describes as "naive." Even in the hospital, she continued to be held in solitary confinement without any recreational activities. Hungary's judiciary has so far rejected requests for prison relief. At the weekend, Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) announced that he would like to speak to the Hungarian government again about the matter. At the same time, he pointed out the seriousness of the allegations: Maja T., along with other defendants and suspects, is alleged to have been involved in attacks on right-wing extremists in Budapest in February 2023. At the request of the public prosecutor's office, she is to be sentenced to 24 years in prison for this.

"My demands remain unchanged! She must be returned to Germany or placed under house arrest and subject to a due process of law," T.'s statement reads. She expects "an offer of reparation" from those responsible for the illegal extradition. The nonbinary person was extradited to Hungary a year ago, even though the Federal Constitutional Court had prohibited this in an expedited procedure the same day.

T. thanks everyone "who stands by our side." The support group BASC wrote on Monday: "As a solidarity committee, Maja's family, and supporters, we are proud of Maja." The State Security Department of the Saxony State Criminal Police Office also commented on the various support campaigns for the accused in the so-called Budapest Complex – probably coincidentally on the same day . Its head sees this as an attempt to "reverse the perpetrator-victim role." Maja T. is being used as a "projection surface" for a variety of political issues. In view of her critical health condition, the State Criminal Police Office also warned against a "further radicalization of the solidarity campaign."