Imprisoned individual, identified as Maja T., in Hungary, discontinued her hunger strike - Hunger strike concluded by Maja T. in Hungary
Maja T., a 24-year-old non-binary German activist, has ended a nearly five-week-long hunger strike in a Hungarian prison. The strike was initiated to protest the inhumane conditions Maja has been subjected to since their arrest in June 2024.
Maja's father and support group announced the end of the hunger strike, but concerns about their health continue to mount. During the hunger strike, Maja lost approximately 14 kilograms and faced the risk of permanent organ damage. Doctors have expressed fears of potential fainting spells, heart failure, and irreversible organ damage due to the prolonged fast. At times, Maja's heart rate dropped as low as 30.
The harsh conditions in the Hungarian prison where Maja has been detained have been widely criticised. Maja has reported severe mental and physical health deterioration, including failing eyesight and exhaustion, due to solitary confinement, limited outdoor time, strip searches, sleep deprivation, and an infestation of cockroaches and bedbugs.
Following Maja's announcement of the hunger strike on June 5, 2025, their health rapidly declined. By early July, Maja was transferred to a hospital in the southeastern part of Hungary. The German government expressed "great concern" for their health and has been in close contact with Maja's family, with the German embassy in Budapest visiting them in hospital.
Despite the end of the hunger strike, there is no evidence that Maja's prison conditions have improved. The German constitutional court has criticised the extradition to Hungary, citing the dangerous prison conditions, especially for LGBTQ people. However, the Hungarian government remains firm in its stance, treating this as a political issue linked to supposed anti-fascist violence.
If found guilty, Maja faces up to 24 years in prison. Maja is currently on trial in Budapest for alleged bodily harm during protests against far-right groups in February 2023. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) has promised to push for better prison conditions for Maja in talks with the government in Budapest. He also stated that Maja is "facing severe charges" and would also face criminal charges in Germany.
Maja was arrested in Berlin in December 2023 and extradited to Hungary in June 2024. The details regarding Maja's extradition to Germany were not specified in the article.
- The European Council countries, particularly Germany, have been actively expressing their concern over the health and wellness of Maja T., a German activist currently on trial in Hungary, who has faced inhumane prison conditions perceived as dangerous, especially for LGBTQ individuals.
- Amidst the ongoing trial in Budapest, science and mental health experts have voiced concerns over the impact of Maja's prolonged hunger strike and the harsh prison conditions on their mental and physical health.
- Despite a change in Maja's employment policy (ending the hunger strike), there is a growing political debate surrounding the general news of Maja's case, with discussions on improving prison conditions and ensuring fair trials, especially in light of the crime and justice issues raised by Maja's extradition and the nature of the charges against them.
