German Court Rules Hungary Extradition Illegal, but Return of Activist Blocked

Despite a ruling that the extradition violated constitutional rights, German authorities claim no legal path exists to reverse the decision.

The German Federal Constitutional Court ruled in January 2025 that the 2024 extradition of a non-binary activist known as 'Maja' to Hungary was unconstitutional.
The court determined that the extradition violated 'Maja's' fundamental rights due to insufficient consideration of prison conditions in Hungary.
The extradition proceeded in June 2024 despite a last-minute court order to halt it, which arrived too late to prevent the transfer.
Berlins' Justice Senator Felor Badenberg stated that there is no legal mechanism to bring 'Maja' back to Germany, as the decision was made by the Berlin Kammergericht and the General Prosecutor's Office.
Hungarian authorities continue to investigate 'Maja' for alleged involvement in attacks on right-wing individuals during the 2023 'Day of Honor' event in Budapest.