A significant controversy has erupted in Germany surrounding the prison placement of Marla-Svenja Liebich, a transgender individual with extreme right affiliations, who faces incarceration for her extremist activities. In July 2023, Liebich, previously known as Sven Liebich, was sentenced to 18 months in prison without parole by the Halle District Court for extreme right incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult. Following her appeal, which was rejected, Liebich is set to begin her sentence at Chemnitz women's prison.
The crux of the controversy stems from Liebich's status as a transgender woman, a designation she acquired by changing her gender records under Germany's recently implemented Self-Determination Act, which simplifies the process for individuals to officially change their gender and name. This has led to heated discussions across media platforms, with skepticism about the sincerity of her gender transition given her history with neo-Nazi groups, notably Blood and Honour. Critics argue that her shift in identity might be a ploy to manipulate prison placement and provoke public outrage.
Der Spiegel raised questions about the legitimacy of Liebich's gender change, suggesting that it was done in an abusive manner to embarrass authorities. Additionally, Liebich has initiated legal actions against various media outlets to contest what she calls misrepresentations of her gender identity, though a complaint against Der Spiegel was dismissed by the Press Council as unfounded.
As the start of her prison term approaches, Liebich affirmed her plans on social media, confirming her entry into the Chemnitz facility on August 29, 2025. The decision regarding her prison placement will ultimately be made by the correctional facility's administration, which will assess her potential threat to security and order within the prison system. Amidst these developments, Liebich also recently faced legal challenges against journalist Julian Reichelt, who claimed that the media coverage around her identity was misleading. The Berlin Regional Court dismissed Liebich's request for a preliminary injunction, further complicating the dialogue surrounding her case.
