Weight Loss Success: Maja T. Sheds 14 Kilograms Amidst Intense Scrutiny at Wadephul - Weight Loss Success: Maja T. Sheds 14 Kilograms Amidst Scrutiny on Wadephul
Maja T., a non-binary German citizen and anti-fascist activist, has been on a hunger strike for over four weeks in Hungary, protesting against their detention conditions. This drastic action has led to significant health concerns, with Maja being transferred to a prison hospital due to dangerous weight loss and the threat of permanent organ damage.
Maja was extradited to Hungary in June 2024, despite a court order prohibiting their extradition. The Federal Constitutional Court in Germany later ruled the extradition unlawful in April 2024, but Maja remains in pre-trial detention under harsh conditions, including solitary confinement and restricted communication.
The German government, led by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, has faced calls to intervene and secure Maja's return to Germany. However, there is no recent information indicating any direct intervention by the German government. Instead, the government has been criticized for its stance, with demonstrations and protests taking place in several German cities demanding action.
Supporters have organized solidarity actions, including disruptions of government meetings and petitions, to pressure the government to act on the court ruling. The SPD in the Bundestag is calling for intervention by Foreign Minister Wadephul to bring Maja T. home, expressing "serious doubts" about the detention conditions and rule of law in Hungary.
Maja is currently on trial in Budapest for alleged bodily injuries during protests against right-wing extremists in February 2023. If found guilty, they face up to 24 years in prison. The trial is currently on a summer break until September.
The Association of Democratic Doctors has called on the treating doctors in Hungary to respect Maja's dignity and will, as Hungarian doctors have threatened to force-feed Maja, despite Maja's rejection of this in a patient's decree. Doctors are considering the implantation of a pacemaker for Maja due to a significantly reduced heart rate, but Maja's father, Wolfram Jarosch, has rejected both the implantation of a pacemaker and the transfer to a civilian hospital where Maja would be tied to a bed around the clock.
The newspaper "taz" reports that Hungarian courts may decide on a transfer back to Germany. The Foreign Office is reportedly "actively" advocating for Maja T. in Hungary. Christian Bachelier from the association has urged the federal government to act immediately regarding Maja T.'s case. Droßmann, a member of the SPD, has stated that it is the duty of the Federal Foreign Office to take care of unlawfully detained Germans.
As Maja T.'s health continues to deteriorate, human rights advocates and activists continue to call for the German government to take decisive action to address Maja's detention and secure their return to Germany.
- The solidarity actions, such as protests and petitions, among EC countries have intensified, urging the German government to ensure free movement of workers, including Maja T., and to uphold the freedom to provide services in the face of Hungary's restrictive detention conditions.
- In light of the mental-health challenges and health-and-wellness concerns arising from Maja T.'s hunger strike, scientists have been called upon to study the long-term effects of such drastic actions, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing individual freedom and applying science-based solutions to protect human rights.
