- By Shivangi Sharma
- Thu, 04 Sep 2025 05:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Moroccan court has sentenced Ibtissam “Betty” Lachgar, a prominent feminist and LGBTQ rights activist, to prison on charges of blasphemy after she posted a selfie wearing a T-shirt that read “Allah is lesbian.” The verdict, delivered late Wednesday night by the Rabat Court of First Instance, has sparked outrage among human rights groups and renewed debate over Morocco’s strict blasphemy laws.
Lachgar, co-founder of the Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties (MALI) and a vocal advocate for women’s and LGBTQ rights, was charged with violating Morocco’s criminal code, which outlaws offending the monarchy or Islam. The charges stemmed from a selfie she posted on social media at the end of July, featuring the Arabic word for “Allah” alongside the phrase “is lesbian.”
According to her attorney, Naïma El Guellaf, the activist was found guilty of blasphemy and of disseminating the image online. The public prosecutor’s office said an investigation was launched “in accordance with the law,” citing “offensive expressions towards God” and remarks deemed an insult to Islam. Under Moroccan law, causing public “outrage” by criticising Islam carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine.
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Defence And Courtroom Arguments
During the hearing, Lachgar appeared visibly fatigued and wore a headscarf. She told the judge she had no intention of insulting Islam, explaining that the T-shirt was a political statement aimed at challenging sexist ideologies and violence against women.
Her legal team argued that the post was not an attack on religion but rather an expression of free speech. “God is not only for Muslims, but also for Christians and Jews. I don’t see any offence to Islam in that publication. I am Muslim myself, and I don’t feel offended by it,” said El Guellaf in court.
Another lawyer, Souad Brahma, head of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, cautioned that the conviction reflected a dangerous backslide in human rights protections.
The case has drawn condemnation from human rights organisations both inside Morocco and internationally. Hamid Sikouk of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights called the verdict “unjust” and warned that it undermines freedom of speech and opinion.
Following the photo’s publication, social media platforms in Morocco lit up with calls for harsh punishment, including some users demanding that Lachgar be stoned.
Lachgar’s defence team has vowed to appeal the conviction, maintaining that the case highlights the tension between Morocco’s modernisation efforts and its restrictive laws on freedom of expression.
