(TJV NEWS) A notorious German neo-Nazi will serve his prison term in a women’s facility after legally changing his gender under Germany’s new Self-Determination Act, according to reports from the Daily Mail, Brussels Signal, and Der Spiegel.

Sven Liebich, 53 — now legally registered as “Marla-Svenja Liebich” — was sentenced in July 2023 to 18 months in prison for incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult stemming from his activities with the banned far-right group Blood and Honour. German intelligence services have long identified Liebich as a right-wing extremist, the Daily Mail noted.

Despite a history of publicly mocking and attacking LGBTQ+ people, including transgender individuals, Liebich took advantage of the Self-Determination Act, which came into effect on November 1, 2024. The law allows any German citizen to change their legal name and gender through a simple declaration at the registry office — without the need for medical reports or psychological assessments, Der Spiegel explained.

Critics argue that Liebich’s legal gender change was a calculated maneuver to secure placement in a women’s prison rather than a genuine transition. While now permitted to wear women’s clothing, observers note that Liebich has not significantly altered his appearance and still sports a mustache, Daily Mail reported.

According to Brussels Signal, the Halle Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Liebich will begin serving his sentence on August 29, 2025, at Chemnitz Women’s Prison in Saxony. Senior prosecutor Dennis Cernota said Liebich would first undergo an admission interview to determine whether he poses a security risk to other inmates. If deemed a threat, authorities could transfer him to another facility.

Placement decisions are formally based on legal gender and residence, prosecutor’s office spokesperson Benedikt Bernzen explained. However, additional psychological or medical evaluations may be ordered if officials suspect an abuse of the gender law to manipulate prison conditions, Brussels Signal added.

Meanwhile, Der Spiegel reported that German media remain skeptical about Liebich’s sincerity, citing his long record of anti-LGBTQ statements. The outlet said Liebich has even threatened to sue journalists who questioned his motives.