A German neo-Nazi who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for inciting hatred and defamation has legally changed gender in what appears to be an attempt to serve time in a women's prison.
Sven Liebich, 53, from Saxony-Anhalt, now goes by the name Marla-Svenja Liebich after taking advantage of new German legislation at the end of 2024.
The right-wing extremist is currently appealing the prison sentence, which was handed down in August 2024 for multiple cases of incitement and defamation.
Liebich has links to the neo-Nazi party Homeland, formerly known as the National Democratic Party (NPD), and connections to the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
In a brief statement to local newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, Liebich said: "I am afraid of discrimination."
Saxony's domestic intelligence services have described Liebich as a "right-wing extremist" whose activities extend "across the state and nationwide".
Liebich utilised Germany's new law on self-determination regarding gender registration (SBGG), which came into force on November 1, 2024.
The legislation allows people to change their first name and gender on official documents without requiring a psychiatric assessment. After applying to the registry office in Schkeuditz, Saxony, Liebich's gender and name change was officially granted.
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According to local media reports, Liebich's appearance has remained largely unchanged since the gender shift, with the only notable difference being a slightly longer beard.
A spokesman for the Halle prosecutor's office told Bild: "There is no automatic guarantee that a man will be sent to a women's prison after changing his gender and name."
The official added that a review of the circumstances would take place if the sentence is upheld. A spokesman for Germany's federal criminal register confirmed the gender change would not impact Liebich's criminal record.
"The physical legal person remains. A change in the civil status law is of secondary importance," the spokesman said.
Liebich is well-known in Saxony as the organiser of the "Montagsdemo", a weekly extreme right-wing demonstration.
He has been photographed wearing Nazi-style armbands and participating in demonstrations where black-clad protesters wave red, white and black flags.
The appeal against his prison sentence is currently ongoing at the Higher Regional Court in Naumburg, in a case that is now technically against a person who no longer exists.
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Sven Liebich, 53, from Saxony-Anhalt, now goes by the name Marla-Svenja Liebich after taking advantage of new German legislation at the end of 2024.
The right-wing extremist is currently appealing the prison sentence, which was handed down in August 2024 for multiple cases of incitement and defamation.
Liebich has links to the neo-Nazi party Homeland, formerly known as the National Democratic Party (NPD), and connections to the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
In a brief statement to local newspaper Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, Liebich said: "I am afraid of discrimination."
Saxony's domestic intelligence services have described Liebich as a "right-wing extremist" whose activities extend "across the state and nationwide".
Liebich utilised Germany's new law on self-determination regarding gender registration (SBGG), which came into force on November 1, 2024.
The legislation allows people to change their first name and gender on official documents without requiring a psychiatric assessment. After applying to the registry office in Schkeuditz, Saxony, Liebich's gender and name change was officially granted.
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According to local media reports, Liebich's appearance has remained largely unchanged since the gender shift, with the only notable difference being a slightly longer beard.
A spokesman for the Halle prosecutor's office told Bild: "There is no automatic guarantee that a man will be sent to a women's prison after changing his gender and name."
The official added that a review of the circumstances would take place if the sentence is upheld. A spokesman for Germany's federal criminal register confirmed the gender change would not impact Liebich's criminal record.
"The physical legal person remains. A change in the civil status law is of secondary importance," the spokesman said.
Liebich is well-known in Saxony as the organiser of the "Montagsdemo", a weekly extreme right-wing demonstration.
He has been photographed wearing Nazi-style armbands and participating in demonstrations where black-clad protesters wave red, white and black flags.
The appeal against his prison sentence is currently ongoing at the Higher Regional Court in Naumburg, in a case that is now technically against a person who no longer exists.
Find Out More...