“Germans beat up right-wing extremists”: Why does DLF trivialize the Hammer Gang’s attempted murders?

On July 8, Deutschlandfunk dedicated a special program to the case of Maja T., a German citizen imprisoned in Hungary. Titled "Family puts pressure on the Foreign Office," the program focused primarily on her father's protests and the support provided by solidarity groups.

Nevertheless, listeners were informed of what Maja T. is actually accused of. Host Thilo Schmidt introduces the program with the following sentence: "In 2023, at a neo-Nazi gathering in Budapest, young Germans are said to have beaten up several right-wing extremists." However, it is true that the accused is accused of using massive violence—including the use of hammers and batons. The fact that the act was recorded by a surveillance camera also remains unmentioned.

The attack is said to have been meticulously planned

It was allegedly a coordinated attack on the so-called Day of Honor – an event for which neo-Nazis from all over Europe gather in Hungary every year. The perpetrators, also referred to in the media as the "Hammer Gang," consisted predominantly of German left-wing extremists. The attack was allegedly meticulously planned and, according to investigators, had clear political motives.

Deutschlandfunk presents these details in abbreviated form or does not mention them at all. In contrast, Maja T.'s arrest in December 2023 and her extradition to Hungary are mentioned. She is now on hunger strike.

In several letters, she complained about solitary confinement, body searches, cockroaches, bedbugs, and a camera monitoring her cell 24/7. According to supporters, she lost about 12 kilograms in weight. She has since been transferred to a prison hospital.

These are aspects that the DLF focuses on in its report. The victims of the alleged violence remain unmentioned. While concerns about fair prison conditions are legitimate, the question remains as to why the suspicion of a massive act of violence and the political background play hardly any role.