Lead
On 4 February 2026, a Hungarian court sentenced 25-year-old German activist Maja T to eight years in prison for her role in violent clashes near Budapest’s annual “Day of Honour” commemoration. Judges found her involved in an attack on participants that prosecutors say left several people with serious injuries. The conviction follows Maja T’s extradition from Germany in December 2024 and can be appealed. Supporters and legal observers have raised concerns about detention conditions and the fairness of the proceedings.
Key Takeaways
- The court handed an eight-year prison term to Maja T on 4 February 2026 after finding her guilty of attempted aggravated bodily harm and assault linked to a criminal organisation.
- Prosecutors say 19 members of a multinational far-left group attacked nine people at the 2023 “Day of Honour,” causing broken bones and head injuries to victims from Germany, Poland and elsewhere.
- Maja T was extradited from Germany to Hungary in December 2024 despite a 2025 ruling by Germany’s Constitutional Court that the extradition risked inhumane treatment.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has previously labelled some anti-fascist groups involved in the incident as “terrorist” organisations; the government spokesman publicly welcomed the sentence.
- Courts in Italy and France have refused to surrender two other suspects to Hungary, citing risks of inhumane treatment in custody.
Background
The annual “Day of Honour” commemoration in Budapest marks the failed breakout attempt by Nazi and allied Hungarian troops during the 1945 siege of the city; it has become one of Europe’s most prominent neo-Nazi gatherings. The event draws far-right groups from across the continent and, over recent years, has increasingly prompted counter-protests by anti-fascist activists. In 2023 violent confrontations occurred before the rally began, with prosecutors alleging a coordinated attack by a multinational group.
Since the 2023 clashes, several legal proceedings have been opened in multiple countries. Hungary has pursued criminal charges against participants, while some European courts have questioned extradition requests on human-rights grounds. Germany’s Constitutional Court in 2025 found procedural problems with surrender guarantees, citing risk of degrading treatment — a ruling that shaped legal debate around the Maja T case.
Main Event
Prosecutors say the incident involved 19 activists who travelled to Budapest and targeted nine individuals they identified as far-right extremists; victims reportedly suffered broken bones and head injuries. Authorities charged participants with aggravated bodily harm and assault committed as part of a criminal organisation. Maja T, identified as one of the group’s members, was extradited to Hungary in December 2024 and stood trial this week.
During the hearing, Maja T addressed the court, suggesting political pressure around the verdict; the trial concluded with a guilty finding and an eight-year custodial sentence. Hungarian officials, including government spokesman Zoltán Kovács, framed the verdict as a necessary enforcement of law against violent activists. Defence supporters and family members called the process politically motivated and highlighted prior judicial reservations about extradition risks.
The conviction is subject to appeal under Hungarian law. Legal teams on both sides have indicated they will use appellate processes to contest factual findings and procedural issues, including claims about pre-trial detention conditions and access to counsel. The case sits alongside other cross-border prosecutions following the 2023 rally, with several defendants tried in Germany and some countries refusing extradition requests.
Analysis & Implications
The decision underscores growing tensions in Europe over how states balance public-order enforcement with protections for defendants in politically charged cases. Hungary’s ruling signals a firm domestic approach to prosecuting cross-border violence tied to extremist events, but it also deepens friction with partners who worry about prison conditions and fair-trial guarantees. The German Constitutional Court’s 2025 finding that extradition risked degrading treatment remains a central point of contention.
Politically, the verdict will likely bolster the Hungarian government’s narrative about security and rule of law while fueling criticism from human-rights advocates and segments of the European legal community. For Germany and other EU states, the case could prompt renewed scrutiny of bilateral surrender arrangements and human-rights assessments used in extradition decisions. Diplomatically, refusals by Italy and France to hand over suspects illustrate divergent judicial judgments across the EU.
For activist networks and far-right groups alike, the ruling may change tactical calculations. Anti-fascist collectives may face increased legal risk for cross-border actions, potentially reducing international mobilization or shifting organizing methods. Conversely, far-right organisers could interpret the sentence as validation that states will act decisively against violent opposition, affecting protest dynamics at future events across Europe.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Known outcome |
|---|---|
| Maja T (Germany) | Extradited Dec 2024; sentenced to 8 years (Hungary) |
| Other defendant tried in Germany | Received 5-year sentence (trial in Germany) |
| Suspects in Italy & France | Refusal to extradite due to inhumane detention risk |
| Alleged group size (2023 attack) | 19 members; 9 victims reported injured |
This table synthesises public data from the court rulings and reporting: the Hungary sentence is 8 years; Germany has issued at least one 5-year sentence in related cases; and two EU courts declined extradition requests citing detention concerns. These figures reflect convictions and judicial decisions made since the 2023 “Day of Honour” clashes and reported through February 2026.
Reactions & Quotes
“We all know what verdict the prime minister of this country wants.”
Maja T, defendant (statement in court)
Context: The defendant addressed the court prior to sentencing, framing the trial as politically charged; the statement was cited by defence supporters who question impartiality.
“An antifa terrorist has been sentenced.”
Zoltán Kovács, Hungarian government spokesman (social media)
Context: Kovács publicly welcomed the sentence on social media, echoing government rhetoric that portrays certain anti-fascist networks as security threats.
“This was a political show trial.”
Wolfram Jarosch, father of Maja T (public statement)
Context: Family members and supporters described the verdict as confirming pre-trial fears about political influence and the fairness of proceedings; such claims are part of ongoing appeals and rights complaints.
Unconfirmed
- Whether direct political pressure from the prime minister’s office influenced judges in this specific case remains unproven and has not been substantiated by independent evidence.
- Claims by supporters that detention conditions in Hungary amounted to inhumane treatment have been reported, but formal, independent inspections or rulings explicitly documenting such conditions in this case have not been published.
- The precise organisational structure and chain of command within the group alleged to have carried out the 2023 attacks remain subject to ongoing investigation and have not been fully established in court records made public so far.
Bottom Line
The eight-year sentence for Maja T crystallises a wider legal and political dispute in Europe over how to prosecute politically motivated street violence while upholding human-rights standards in extradition and detention. Hungary’s decision reflects a domestic priority on law-and-order responses to cross-border incidents, but it collides with judicial skepticism in other EU states about custody conditions.
Expect continued appeals and diplomatic friction: defence teams are likely to press human-rights arguments in higher courts, and some EU partners may renew scrutiny of bilateral surrender guarantees. For civil-society actors, the case will become a reference point in debates on cross-border protest tactics, state responses, and the limits of criminal liability in politically charged confrontations.
Sources
- Al Jazeera (international news report)
- Federal Constitutional Court of Germany (official court site)
- Hungarian Government — Prime Minister’s Office (official government information)