- Occasion: Sentencing of Maja T. in Budapest to 8 years in prison.
- Location & Time: Jena Innenstadt, Saturday, 07.02.2026.
- Participants: Police estimate 700, organizers over 1,000.
- Incidents: Use of pyrotechnics, masking, four recorded criminal offenses.
Jena (09.02.2026) – It was a loud sign of solidarity in the birthplace of the individual involved: last Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in the Jena Innenstadt to demonstrate against the verdict of the Budapest City Court in the case of Maja T. A few days earlier, the 25-year-old non-binary person had been sentenced to eight years in prison in Hungary. The case, which is causing an international stir and revealing diplomatic friction between Germany and Hungary, is particularly moving many in Jena.
Demonstration March Through the City Center
According to the Polizeiinspektion Jena, around 700 people took part in the march. The organizers, however, spoke of more than 1,000 supporters who voiced their displeasure regarding the trial and the detention conditions in Hungary. Under slogans demanding the immediate return of Maja T. to Germany, the crowd moved through the city center.
Although the majority of the demonstration proceeded peacefully, the emergency services recorded several incidents. As a police spokesperson confirmed, participants ignited pyrotechnics and smoke bombs on multiple occasions. Additionally, the existing ban on masking was violated. In the final assessment after the rally, a total of four criminal offenses were recorded, and several administrative offense proceedings were initiated.
Background: The Trial in Budapest
The verdict that triggered the protest in Jena was delivered only a few days ago in the Hungarian capital. The court found it proven that Maja T. was a member of a criminal organization and had participated in attempted life-threatening bodily harm. Specifically, the case concerns attacks on alleged right-wing extremists around the so-called “Tag der Ehre” in February 2023 in Budapest. During these incidents, nine people were injured, some of them seriously.
The verdict is not yet legally binding; an appeal is possible. Nevertheless, the severity of the sentence and the court’s harshness sparked criticism. The defense had pleaded for an acquittal, while the Hungarian public prosecutor’s office had originally even demanded 24 years in prison. Maja T., who is originally from Jena, was arrested in Berlin in December 2023 and extradited to Hungary in June 2024—a process that was highly controversial legally, as an intervention by the Federal Constitutional Court came just slightly too late.
Political Reactions and Criticism of the Procedure
The case has long reached the level of high politics. Critics and relatives accuse the Hungarian judiciary under the government of Viktor Orbán of conducting a political show trial. Katharina König-Preuss, a member of the Thuringian state parliament for the Linke party, sharply renewed her criticism over the weekend. She emphasized that Maja T. had been extradited unlawfully and had been held in solitary confinement under conditions harmful to health. The Linke parliamentary group continues to demand that the immediate commencement of the prison sentence must be made possible in Germany to guarantee a procedure under the rule of law.
At the federal level, reactions have been mixed. While the Linke and parts of the SPD condemn the proceedings as politically motivated, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) expressed himself cautiously. During a visit to Australia, he stated that the verdict of an EU country is respected as long as it is not final. At the same time, he confirmed that the Federal Foreign Office is providing consular assistance and that the request for extradition to Germany remains in place. Considerably harsher tones were struck by CSU politician Alexander Dobrindt, who defended the verdict in view of the severity of the injuries.
Nationwide Wave of Protests
Jena is not the only site of protest. Already on Wednesday, rallies took place in Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Dresden, and other cities. The solidarity movement not only demands freedom for Maja T. but generally criticizes the handling of anti-fascist protest in Europe. For the supporter scene in Jena, the case remains personal: they see Maja T. not just as a political figure, but as a person from their midst whose fundamental rights are at risk.
The verdict of the first instance thus does not mark the end of the legal dispute, but is likely to further fuel the debate over extraditions within the EU and the state of the Hungarian rule of law.