German citizen sparks controversy by changing gender to serve sentence in women's prison

(Web Desk) - A German citizen changed their gender solely to be incarcerated in a women’s prison. Marla Svenja Liebsch, previously known as Sven Liebsch, is associated with neo-Nazi and right-wing ideologies.

Liebsch was sentenced to 18 months in prison in July 2023 for crimes including hate speech, illegal trespassing, and disseminating offensive propaganda.

Under Germany’s Self-Determination Act, introduced in November 2024, German citizens can now legally change their gender by simply signing a form, without requiring medical or judicial processes.

Liebsch utilized this law to amend their identification documents and legally change their gender to female, sparking controversy over their subsequent placement in a women’s prison.

This move has drawn criticism, particularly due to Liebsch’s history of hateful stances against the LGBTQ community, with many commentators labeling it an “abuse of the gender change law.”

Germany’s Chief Public Prosecutor and legal experts have deemed Liebsch’s presence in a women’s prison a security risk, stating that they could be transferred to a men’s prison if necessary.