Kiel under fire: activists demand release for Maja T.

Kiel under fire: activists demand release for Maja T.

It's a busy day at the state parliament in Kiel today. Activists from the “TurboKlimakampfgruppe” (TKKG) have gathered on a scaffold and are loudly demanding the release of Maja T., who has been imprisoned in Hungary for over a year. Their action, which began in the morning, fell into the “attention-grabbing” category. The “Free Maja” banner that was unrolled from the scaffolding clearly shows what goal they are pursuing: the immediate transfer of the 28-year-old back to Germany. Frank Platthoff, the speaker of the state parliament, has already confirmed the action and informed the police, who are currently discussing possible measures for trespassing.

The police, represented by spokeswoman Stephanie Lage, announce that the activists are not willing to negotiate and want to remain on the scaffolding. In an exciting moment of communication, State Parliament President Kristina Herbst (CDU) tried to appease the group and invited them to coffee, but this attempt was unsuccessful.

Background to Maja T.'s imprisonment

But who is Maja T. and why is her case causing such a stir? The 28-year-old is currently in a detention hospital 250 kilometers from Budapest. Her trial began in February and she is accused of being involved in violent attacks on right-wing extremists in the Hungarian capital in 2023. A conviction could put her behind bars for up to 24 years. In addition, human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have described Maja T.'s detention conditions as inadequate and amounting to psychological torture. She is in solitary confinement and recently ended a hunger strike aimed at urgently reviewing her detention conditions.

Since Maja T.'s extradition to Hungary in June 2024, which was ruled unlawful by the Federal Constitutional Court at the time, activists have taken to the streets to fight for their rights. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is planning talks with the Hungarian government to achieve better prison conditions for Maja T. However, he made it clear that criminal proceedings against her in Germany cannot be ruled out either.

Human rights in Hungary

A look at the situation in Hungary shows that it is not only Maja T. who is affected there. The pressure on human rights and the rule of law has increased massively in recent years. The Hungarian government restricts the rights of minorities, controls the media and the judiciary and restricts the work of critical organizations. Amnesty International draws attention to this grievance and calls for the defense of human rights in Hungary, as they explain in their report.

The protest in Kiel is more than just a spontaneous outcry. It is part of a larger movement that addresses the worrying developments in Hungary. Those watching the events in Kiel can only guess what will happen next. But one thing is clear: the demand for freedom and justice is getting louder and louder.