Controversy Erupts Over Transfer of Convicted Child Murderer to Women's Prison After Legal Gender Change

Paulus Abdelshahed, a 38-year-old serving a life sentence for the murder of his two children, has been transferred to a women's prison following a legal change of gender and name to Lilly. This move by Kriminalvården (the Swedish Prison and Probation Service) has ignited significant political and public debate in Sweden, centering on prison placement policies and the implications of recent changes to gender identity laws.

Abdelshahed was originally sentenced after the tragic murder of his two children under the age of ten in Södertälje. He was initially housed in a men's facility in Tidaholm but was placed in solitary confinement for security reasons after requesting to legally change his gender. Following the official change, Kriminalvården determined that he no longer met the criteria for placement in the men's prison and opted to relocate him to a women's institution to facilitate his social reintegration.

The decision has sparked a sharp political backlash, particularly from the Christian Democrats (KD). The party, which opposed the new gender identity law enacted on July 1, 2025, argues that the legislation's lowered barriers to legally changing gender have led to unsafe situations in prisons, especially for women inmates. Christian Carlsson, chair of the social committee within KD, has called for the Director-General of Kriminalvården, Martin Holmgren, to be summoned to the Riksdag to explain how the law is being implemented and to address concerns about guard and inmate safety.

The new gender identity law simplifies procedures for gender changes, reducing the minimum age from 18 to 16 years with parental consent and easing medical assessment requirements. While intended to alleviate suffering for transgender individuals, opponents like KD leader Ebba Busch warn it could be abused and have unintended consequences. This situation has also caused public disagreements within Sweden's Tidö coalition government, with Moderaterna's Fredrik Kärrholm accusing KD of politicizing the issue rather than focusing on practical prison reforms.

This case has revived longstanding debates since gender reassignment laws were introduced, about how to appropriately house transgender prisoners. Authorities have defended their decisions by emphasizing security precautions and the need for suitable placement to aid rehabilitation. Nonetheless, the safety of female inmates and the consistency of policy application remain key points of contention.

As Parliament prepares to question Kriminalvården's leadership, the broader political and social implications of the gender identity law reforms continue to unfold, stimulating public discourse on gender identity and correctional system policies in Sweden.