# Jailed German neo-Nazi changes gender in apparent attempt to go to women's prison over fear of 'discrimination'

By Jessica Barshis · Published 2025-01-17 · News & Analysis › World · https://humanevents.com/news/jailed-german-neo-nazi-changes-gender-in-apparent-attempt-to-go-to-womens-prison-over-fear-of-discrimination

> Sven Liebich hasn't changed appearance and has even grown his beard out longer.

A [German](https://humanevents.com/2024/12/24/germans-demand-mass-deportations-of-migrants-after-saudi-man-killed-5-at-christmas-market) neo-Nazi who was imprisoned for [inciting hatred](https://humanevents.com/2025/01/11/left-wing-protesters-clash-with-german-police-outside-afd-convention) has legally changed his name and gender in an apparent attempt to get transferred to a women's [prison](https://humanevents.com/2024/12/03/american-woman-faces-10-years-in-german-prison-for-accidentally-stabbing-man-in-self-defense-who-repeatedly-groped-her-report), citing fear of "discrimination."

Sven Liebich, 53, is in the process of appealing the 18-month jail sentence he's been serving in a men's prison in Saxony, [per](https://nypost.com/2025/01/16/world-news/german-neo-nazi-jailed-for-inciting-hatred-changes-gender-in-bid-to-go-to-womens-prison/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=Slack) the New York Post. The felon, who has changed his name to Marla-Svenja Liebich, said “I am afraid of discrimination” in a statement.

Despite the legal gender change, Liebich hasn't changed appearance and has even grown his beard out longer. Local [German](https://humanevents.com/2024/12/13/victim-of-islamist-stabbing-in-germany-convicted-of-anti-islam-hate-speech) news outlets have stated that he only made the move to get transferred to a female-only prison, however officials have stated that his gender change does not guarantee relocation.

“There is no automatic guarantee that a man will be sent to a women’s prison after changing his gender and name,” a spokesperson for the local prosecutor’s office said. “In each case, there will be an individual review.”

A spokesman for Germany's federal criminal register has also stated that the move would not impact Liebich's criminal record. “The physical legal person remains. A change in the civil status law is of secondary importance,” the rep said.

Liebich, who has ties to the neo-Nazi party Homeland and the right-wing [Alternative for Germany](https://humanevents.com/2025/01/11/afd-formally-nominates-alice-weidel-as-candidate-for-chancellor-in-germany) party, is known for organizing a weekly demonstration known as the "Montagsdemo" which protests against the government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). He has also been seen wearing Nazi-style armbands and participating in rallies while wearing red, white, and black flags.