A convicted German transgender right-wing extremist has been arrested in the Czech Republic after being on the run for several months. Marla-Svenja Liebich, formerly known as Sven, was taken into custody based on a European arrest warrant in Krásná, situated about 100 kilometers east of Prague.
In August 2025, Liebich failed to report to a prison in Chemnitz, Germany, where she was meant to start an 18-month sentence. Her lengthy absence from law enforcement came after being sentenced last July by the Halle District Court to 18 months in prison for extreme right incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult. She lost an appeal against the sentence.
Liebich was previously a member of a neo-Nazi group called Blood and Honour. In a significant change, at the end of 2024, she legally changed her gender from male to female, as well as her name. This change was granted under Germany's Self-Determination Act, which allows individuals to change their gender markers and names without a judicial ruling.
The legitimacy of Liebich's gender transition has been challenged, leading to accusations from German officials that she may have exploited the law for personal gain. In particular, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expressed concerns about the potential misuse of the Self-Determination Act.
At the time of her arrest, reports indicate that Liebich was wearing men's clothes and had a shaved head, seemingly attempting to evade capture briefly. She is now in custody and is expected to be extradited to Germany to serve her sentence.
In August 2025, Liebich failed to report to a prison in Chemnitz, Germany, where she was meant to start an 18-month sentence. Her lengthy absence from law enforcement came after being sentenced last July by the Halle District Court to 18 months in prison for extreme right incitement to hatred, defamation, and insult. She lost an appeal against the sentence.
Liebich was previously a member of a neo-Nazi group called Blood and Honour. In a significant change, at the end of 2024, she legally changed her gender from male to female, as well as her name. This change was granted under Germany's Self-Determination Act, which allows individuals to change their gender markers and names without a judicial ruling.
The legitimacy of Liebich's gender transition has been challenged, leading to accusations from German officials that she may have exploited the law for personal gain. In particular, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expressed concerns about the potential misuse of the Self-Determination Act.
At the time of her arrest, reports indicate that Liebich was wearing men's clothes and had a shaved head, seemingly attempting to evade capture briefly. She is now in custody and is expected to be extradited to Germany to serve her sentence.
