A German neo-Nazi has legally changed his gender in an apparent attempt to be transferred to a women’s prison.

Sven Liebich, who was convicted last year on charges of inciting hatred and defamation, is appealing his 18-month prison sentence in the east German state of Saxony.

But in an unusual twist to his case, Liebich has legally changed gender and now lives under the name Marla-Svenja.

According to Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, a newspaper in Saxony, Liebich’s appearance has not changed since the gender shift, other than a slight increase in beard length.

In a brief statement to the newspaper, Liebich said: “I am afraid of discrimination.”

New self-determination law

Liebich made use of a recent reform to Germany’s rules on self-determination, which allow people to change their first name and gender on official documents without a psychiatric assessment.

But the change in gender does not necessarily mean Liebich will be sent to a woman’s prison if his sentence is upheld, according to officials in Saxony.