Germany is facing renewed debate over its prison system and gender policies after a neo-Nazi extremist will serve her sentence in a women’s prison following a legal gender change.
Marla-Svenja Liebich, previously known as Sven Liebich, is set to serve an 18-month sentence at Chemnitz women’s prison in Saxony, raising questions about the intersection of gender self-identification and criminal justice.
From Male to Female Under the Self-Determination Act
Liebich was sentenced in July 2023 for multiple far-right offences, including incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult.
At that time, she identified as male, her gender at birth.
However, by the end of 2024, she legally changed her gender entry from male to female and adopted the first name Marla-Svenja, using Germany’s Self-Determination Act.
The Act allows individuals to update their gender and first name at a registry office without needing a judicial ruling, reflecting Germany’s move toward streamlined gender recognition.
Liebich now appears in public wearing women’s clothing, though she continues to sport a moustache, sparking media scrutiny.
Legal Challenges and Media Scrutiny
Despite her gender change, German media have questioned the sincerity of Liebich’s identity.
She has filed complaints against several outlets for what she claims are false portrayals of her gender.
Notably, a complaint to the Press Council against Der Spiegel was dismissed as unfounded.
Earlier this year, Liebich requested to serve her prison sentence in a female facility, citing a desire to avoid “discrimination” from male inmates.
The case highlights tensions between civil law recognition of gender and its application within the penal system.
Far-Right Past Under the Spotlight
German domestic intelligence regards Liebich as a right-wing extremist.
She has been photographed wearing a Nazi-style armband featuring the slogan “Sicherheits-Abteilung” (SA), referencing the Nazis’ infamous stormtrooper division.
In January, officials clarified that while Liebich’s gender is legally recognized as female in civil records, the prison system still officially treats her as a male inmate in legal terms.
The case continues to provoke debate over how gender self-identification intersects with incarceration policies and public safety concerns.
