Neo-Nazi changes gender to secure prison spell in WOMEN'S jail

Though he was sent down as a man, Liebich has taken advantage of new rules brought in last year to instead be sent to the Chemnitz women's prison in Saxony.

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According to German officials, the decision to imprison him at a women's prison was based not on his biological sex, but rather on his "registered gender".

However, a senior prosecutor in Saxony, Dennis Cernota, said that upon his arrival, Liebich would be interviewed to determine if it was appropriate to place him among female prisoners.

Mr Cernota added that Leibich may be transferred if he poses a threat to other inmates, or to law and order behind bars.

Last year, then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz introduced forms which simplified the process for someone to change their name and gender on official documents.

The reforms, which Mr Scholz vowed would support transgender people in Germany, have now been thrown into controversy.

Based on recent pictures, Liebich now wears women's clothing and a moustache in public, and goes by the name Marla-Svenja on official documents.

He explained earlier this year that he changed his gender and asked for his sentence to be in a female prison in order to avoid "discrimination" from male inmates.

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Germany's domestic intelligence services in Saxony describe Liebich as a "right-wing extremist" with activity "across the state and nationwide".

He has been photographed at protests wearing a Nazi-style armband with the slogan "Sicherheits-Abteilung", or SA, similar to the Nazis' paramilitary organisation the "Sturmabteilung" or Stormtroopers.

At the beginning of this year, officials in Germany said the country's penal system said that in legal terms, LIebich was still considered to be a male prisoner, as his status as female was only based in civil law.

One official said: "The physical legal person remains. A change in the civil status law is of secondary importance."

While in power, Mr Scholz called the reforms on gender changes a key step forward for German society and its respect towards minorities.

He said: "We show respect to trans, intersex and non-binary people, without taking anything away from others.

"This is how we continue to drive the modernisation of our country.

"This includes recognising realities of life and making them possible by law."

In the past, a legal review was needed to change gender in Germany - but now it requires only a declaration to authorities.

This means transgender people are able to easily change legal documents to reflect their new identity, such as updating their first name on their passport.