Sven Liebich, 53, now legally known as "Marla-Svenja Liebich," was convicted in July 2023 for incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult over a string of offenses committed during his involvement with the far-right neo-Nazi group Blood and Honour. He is considered by German intelligence services as a "right-wing extremist."
Despite his documented disdain for the LGBTQ+ community, including those who identify as transgender, Liebich utilized Germany's Self-Determination Act, which took effect November 1, 2024, to change his legal gender from male to female. The law allows individuals to alter their gender and name through a simple declaration at a registry office, without requiring medical or psychological assessments.
Critics suggest Liebich's decision to change genders was a strategic move to secure placement in a women's prison. While he may now wear women's clothing, Liebich has had minimal changes in his appearance and still retains a mustache.
The Halle Public Prosecutor's Office has confirmed that Liebich is scheduled to begin serving his sentence at Chemnitz Women's Prison on August 29, 2025. Senior prosecutor Dennis Cernota stated that an admission interview will assess whether Liebich poses a security risk to other inmates, with the possibility of transfer to another facility if deemed necessary, Brussels Signal reported.
The decision on placement is based on the legally registered gender and place of residence, explained Benedikt Bernzen, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office. However, additional psychological or medical reports may be considered if there's suspicion of deliberate manipulation of gender registration to influence prison conditions.
German media have questioned whether Liebich's gender change was serious, with the outlet Der Spiegel citing his history of anti-LBGTQ remarks, which have resulted in Liebich threatening legal action against reporters.
