German Transgender Right-Wing Extremist Arrested in Czech Republic

A German right-wing extremist, Marla-Svenja Liebich, a transgender individual with a criminal history, was captured in the Czech Republic after months of evading authorities. The arrest took place in Krásná, a town located approximately 100 kilometers east of Prague, based on a European arrest warrant.

Liebich had previously served an 18-month prison sentence in Germany, but she skipped her court appearance in Chemnitz in August 2025. German media outlets have reported that she was once a member of the neo-Nazi group Blood and Honour. Her latest conviction, handed down in July 2023 by the Halle District Court in Saxon-Anhalt, resulted in a one-year-and-six-month sentence for inciting hatred, defamation, and insults.

She contested the ruling but was unsuccessful. At the time of sentencing, she was still known as Sven Liebich. A spokesperson from the Halle public prosecutor’s office confirmed her current custody in the Czech Republic and noted her expected extradition to Germany.

Gender Transition and Legal Context

By late 2024, Liebich had updated her gender marker in official documents from male to female and changed her first name. This followed the implementation of Germany’s Self-Determination Act, which streamlined the process for transgender individuals to alter their legal records without requiring a court decision.

German media have raised questions about the authenticity of her transition. Last year, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) criticized her for allegedly exploiting the law.

“The gender change appears to be a clear case of abuse here,” Dobrindt stated in an interview with ZDF TV.

Details about her appearance during the arrest include reports that she was wearing men’s clothing and had a shaved head. While she briefly attempted to escape, the prosecutor’s office has not disclosed any remarks on her look or behavior at the time of capture.