The new year is not even halfway through, and yet events in 2025 have already unfolded almost as rapidly as the authorities in their efforts to criminalize anti-fascists and subject them to repression.
The context:
In February 2023, as every year the neo-Nazi gathering “Day of Honor” took place in authoritarian Hungary. Since 1997, thousands of Nazis have been gathering on February 11 to commemorate the attempted breakout of besieged Nazi troops in 1945. Budapest was already surrounded by the Red Army when seventy thousand Wehrmacht and SS soldiers, as well as Hungarian collaborators, attempted to break through the encirclement, with only a few surviving. Established since the 1990s, this glorification of Nazism continues to take place every year under the authoritarian Orban regime, and has even become larger and more significant for the European neo-Nazi scene.
For several years now, Hungarian anti-fascists have been organizing public counter-protests and condemning the event for what it is: open historical revisionism and glorification of Nazi ideology.
Last year, physical attacks on neo-Nazis happened during this event. These attacks were followed by massive repression.
Seven anti-fascists voluntarily surrender to investigating authorities
On January 20, seven anti-fascists voluntarily surrendered to German authorities, facing the possibility of long prison sentences. For more than two years, they successfully evaded the authorities and their zealous investigations. The investigations against them were accompanied by massive propaganda and hate speech, both in the Hungarian and German press. In Hungary, photos with the antifascist’s names and addresses were published, calling for a hunt for them. This was picked up by German neo-Nazis and the Springer press and spread further in Germany. The Saxony State Criminal Police Office, the SOKO-LinX, and the office for the Protection of the constitution were leading the investigations against the anti-fascists. Already in connection with the Antifa-Ost complex, absurd threat scenarios of a new RAF and left-wing terror were propagated. But that’s not all! Friends and alleged associates of those sought were subjected to house searches, wiretapping, SEK operations, and attempts to chat them up for over two years.
Both German and international arrest warrants were issued for Clara, Moritz, Paul, Luca, Nele, and Paula. The arrest warrants were immediately executed and the Antifa activists were locked up in various prisons throughout Germany. They were taken to prisons in Bielefeld, Wuppertal, Chemnitz, Leipzig, Regis Breitingen, and Hamburg. This was despite their lawyers having applied for bail on the grounds that there was no risk of them fleeing (all seven had turned themselves in and made no attempt to escape). Some of them were placed far away from their homes, families, and friends. Luca, for example, was transferred to Bielefeld after she turned herself in. Her friends and social circle are based in Leipzig. Similarly, Paula was locked up in Wuppertal prison after turning herself in in Jena. What are the authorities trying to achieve with this? Isolation and segregation! Nevertheless, solidarity rallies, music, and fireworks took place in front of the prisons that same evening in solidarity with the prisoners.
Zaid is still facing possible extradition
Unlike the other six who turned themselves in, Zaid is not wanted by german prosecution authorities, but only by Hungary, which has issued an EU arrest warrant. Zaid has been in extradition custody in Cologne since he got arrested. He fled to Germany with his family in 2014 to escape the Syrian civil war. After it became clear that Zaid would face extradition to Hungary and thus deportation to Syria if he was arrested, he went into hiding for over two years. For two years, everything was put on hold. No contact with the people he loved, no job, no health insurance, and the constant worry of being caught with all the consequences that would entail. Ultimately, it was his decision to turn himself in and place himself in the hands of a state from which not much can be expected. The so-called “centrist parties” tried, not least during the election campaign and in the recent coalition negotiations, to outdo each other in contempt for humanity, racism, deportation fantasies, and backward thinking.
While the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office has now declared that it is “a priority” to conduct proceedings in Germany in the case of the other six defendants, the racist German state does not feel responsible for Zaid as a “Syrian citizen.” This opens up a whole new dimension of repression for Zaid: the threat of deportation to Syria. As a non-“German citizen,” it is easy for the authorities to extradite Zaid to Hungary, which, as already mentioned, has issued an arrest warrant and thus an extradition request. In this case, Zaid faces not only imprisonment in a Hungarian prison but also the very real possibility of deportation to Syria. We therefore demand unequivocally: No extradition of Zaid to Hungary!
**Update**: The Berlin Court of appeal, which now considers itself responsible for Zaid’s case, granted the 21-year-old a stay of detention on May 2. This means that Zaid has been released from prison on condition that he reports to the police twice a week. His lawyers had been demanding this for a long time, as Zaid had voluntarily surrendered in January and there was no risk of him fleeing. However, Zaid still faces extradition and possible deportation to a war zone!
Decision of the Federal Constitutional Court: Maja’s extradition to Hungary was unlawful
On February 6, Germany’s highest court declared Maja’s extradition as unconstitutional. In addition, the Federal Constitutional Court criticized the Berlin Court of appeals decision to ultimately order the extradition as a “profound violation of fundamental rights.”The authorities had not “sufficiently examined” the impending prison conditions and discrimination that Maja would face as a non-binary person in the prison system of an authoritarian, queer-hostile state. We do not believe in the state construct, its courts, or its authorities. Nevertheless, it is significant that even Germany’s highest judicial authority clearly condemns the actions of another court. This only serves to highlight the unconditional and politically motivated persecution by the german authorities. We know that the Berlin Court of Appeal did not fail to “review the conditions of detention.” We know that the extradition was planned and thought out precisely to ensure these conditions.
The BVG’s statements have remained just that: words. So far, there have been no efforts to reverse the extradition. We therefore demand: Maja’s immediate release and no further extraditions to Hungary!
Trial begins in Budapest
After Maja was abducted from a prison in Dresden in the very middle of the night in June 2024 and taken to Budapest, the non-binary anti-fascist had to spend almost eight months in Hungarian custody under the most degrading conditions. Maja reports cockroaches and bedbugs, nightly cell checks, illegally installed cameras in their cell, screams from neighboring cells, and discrimination by prison guards and wardens. Maja remains in complete isolation with little contact with fellow prisoners. The hygienic conditions are catastrophic, as described above.
On February 21, 2025, the trial began in Budapest. Maja was led into the courtroom in chains: handcuffed and shackled, with a leash attached to them, accompanied by two masked, armed officers.
At the start of the preliminary hearings, the hungarian public prosecutor’s office offered Maja a “deal”: 14 years of imprisonment under particularly strict conditions, which Maja could serve immediately and without further trial. In return, the court demanded a confession. If they rejected this “deal,” Maja would be tried in Budapest, where they could face up to 24 years in prison. If Maja admitted their guilt, they would waive their right to a trial and would no longer be able to contest their guilt. The only recourse would be to appeal the sentence. With the words “No, I do not admit my guilt!” Maja rejects the deal and then reads out a combative and loving statement of defense lasting over half an hour.
Since then, nothing has changed in Maja’s circumstances. The trial is taking place in the context of the autocratization of the Hungarian state, which is increasingly restricting the rights of LGBTQI+ people. On the last day of the trial, Hungarian neo-Nazis attempted to intimidate the audience and activists outside the court and to stage everything for the media. New trial dates are scheduled for June. There is a mobilization to accompany the trial in Budapest in solidarity!
Hanna’s trial begins in Munich on charges of “attempted murder”
At around the same time, the trial of anti-fascist activist Hanna began in Munich. Hanna has been in pretrial detention in Munich since May 2024.
She is accused of participating in physical altercations with neo-Nazis in Hungary together with others accused in the so-called “Budapest Complex.” In addition to the charge of membership in a criminal organization, the prosecution is attempting to construct a charge of “attempted murder” in Hanna’s case. Once again, Hanna’s case reveals the absurd extent of the repression of anti-fascists by german investigative authorities.The long pretrial detention, the long-looming threat of extradition to right-wing authoritarian Hungary, and the completely exaggerated and fabricated charges such as “attempted murder” are intended to be both a means of pressure and a deterrent. Similar to the accusation of association, it serves to deter and legitimize the crackdown on anti-fascist activism.
Another anti-fascist turns herself in to the police
In march, Emmi voluntarily surrendered to the authorities. She is also accused of participating in attacks on Nazis on “Day of Honour” in 2023. Since then Emmi has been detained in a prison in Luckau-Deuben.
Demo in solidarity with the prisoners in Chemnitz on 30th March
This year, there was a particularly powerful and emotional rally in front of the women’s prison in Chemnitz, attended by around 120 people. We have been there for nine years to support the women in prison, to highlight gender-specific problems in the prison system, and to demand the abolition of all prisons. Once again, a wide variety of speeches, greetings, music requests from the prisoners that had been collected in advance, and a few live serenades were broadcast over the prison walls with a powerful sound system.
Of course, we sent particularly warm greetings to our comrades Nele and Paula. We were all the more delighted to receive Nele’s first letter after the rally. In her letter, she shares some of the voices of her fellow prisoners: “It was like being a bit more free,” “like being at a concert outside,” and “Thank you for seeing us not just as criminals, but as human beings.” She writes that some tears of joy were shed and that many of the migrant prisoners were particularly surprised by so much solidarity. This gives us strength and courage to continue. No one is free until all are free!
France will not extradite Gino to Hungary!
On April 29, a French court announced that Gino would not be extradited to Hungary. The court based its decision on Articles 3 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. According to these articles, there is no guarantee that these rights would be upheld if he were extradited to authoritarian Hungary. Furthermore, the court is of the opinion that Gino would be at risk of torture and inhumane treatment due to his political beliefs. In addition, the court pointed out the risk of an unfair trial (Gino would also have faced a sentence of up to 24 years).
Shortly thereafter, Gino was released on probation.
Nationwide demonstration: Now more than ever. Anti-fascism is necessary! Freedom for all anti-fascists!
On June 14, 2025, a nationwide demonstration will take place in Jena in solidarity with all prisoners, persecuted people, and anti-fascists affected by repression.
Our solidarity is still our weapon!
Maja’s extradition and threatened sentencing to harsh penalties, the impending extradition of Zaid, the absurd accusations against Hanna, and the treatment of the other Antifascists demonstrate that these trials are about much more than a few beaten-up Nazis. These trials are political!
These developments are symptomatic of the current state of affairs in Germany and show where this country and this society are heading.
And the message that is to be sent through extradition, murder charges, and long prison sentences fits all too well with the tenor of the last election campaign and the coalition talks recently held by the “centrist parties”: anti-fascism is being criminalized, while authoritarian and right-wing politics are being made increasingly acceptable. Once again, it is very clear: we cannot and should not rely on this state and its justice system. It is up to us to exert pressure and bring about change, to create a vision of a better future. Our unwavering solidarity therefore continues to go out to all anti-fascists affected and threatened by repression—whether in prison or underground, you are not alone!