The following speech was held on 16.7.2025 in front of the German embassy in Helsinki.
We’re here today, because our comrade Maja is still imprisoned in Hungary. Maja is being accused of attacking neo-nazis in 2023 during the far right so called “day of honour” in Budapest. Over one year ago Maja was illegally extradited by the German state, and ever since then Maja has been in solitary confinement. This is considered torture. For over a year, Maja has had to endure insects in the cell, moldy food and being awoken in the night by guards. Maja has to wear handcuffs sometimes in their cell and can’t meet their family or lawyers without plexiglass separating them.
As non-binary, Majas existence is not acknowledged by Hungary. For a long time, Maja was not even addressed by their preferred name in court.
On Monday, Maja paused their hunger strike after 40 days due to health concerns. Majas demands were clear and simple: end the solitary confinement and return them to Germany. Before or during the hunger strike, the German state has done basically nothing to help Maja. Only vague, empty words. Even when finally this weekend the foreign minister Wadephul commented on the case, were his promises too little, too late. Maja was already hospitalised, their heart rate had dropped dangerously low and the threat of permanent damage to their health was imminent. And still the best Mr. Wadephul could do was try to negotiate on “better conditions of imprisonment”. No correction of the illegal extradition, not upholding the decision of the constitutional court. Just “better conditions”.
The German state knew exactly what was waiting for Maja in Hungary and one can only assume that it is exactly what they wanted:
to make an example of Maja to all of us. To say: “if we even think that you fight fascism by all necessary means, you will be persecuted and you will be thrown to the wolves.” And this by the state that is itself responsible for two world wars and the murder of millions in the hands of German nazis.
One can only be reminded of the famous words by Holocaust survivor Esther Bejarano:
“who fights against nazis, cannot rely on the state.”
Maja is not the only one accused and currently the antifascist Zaid is under threat of being extradited to Hungary as well. Just like Maja, we too demand no further extraditions to Hungary.
Free Maja, Free all antifas!
