Activist from Morocco conviction due to blasphemy charges
Moroccan Activist Ibtissame Lachgar Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Blasphemy
Ibtissame Lachgar, a prominent Moroccan activist and advocate for women and LGBTQ+ communities, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for blasphemy. The court also imposed a fine of 50,000 dirhams ($5,500) on Lachgar.
Lachgar, a 50-year-old clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Alternative Movement for Individuals Freedoms known as MALI, has been a vocal advocate for the decriminalization of sex outside of marriage. Last month, she was arrested for posting an online picture of herself wearing a T-shirt with the word "Allah" in Arabic followed by "is lesbian."
During the Wednesday hearing, Lachgar wore a headscarf and appeared fatigued. She argued that the message on the T-shirt she wore was political and had no intention of offending Islam. Her defense team emphasized that God is not only for Muslims, but also for Christians and Jews, and that the publication on the T-shirt did not intend to offend Islam. They argued that Lachgar's wearing of the T-shirt falls under freedom of expression.
The court found Lachgar guilty of violating part of Morocco's criminal code that prohibits offending the monarchy or Islam. The lawyer, El Guellaf, stated that he himself is Muslim and does not feel offended by the publication on the T-shirt. However, the court ruled otherwise.
The sentencing has reignited the debate about human rights in Morocco. Some view Lachgar's sentencing as a valid response to provocation, while others see it as a violation of democracy and freedom of speech. Hakim Sikouk, president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, condemned the sentencing as "shocking" and an "attack" on freedom of expression.
The defense plans to appeal the sentence and fine imposed on Lachgar. Lachgar's sentencing has been met with international condemnation and calls for her immediate release. Lachgar is a Moroccan developmental psychologist, feminist, human rights and LGBT activist, who has faced legal prosecution for her activism, including a trial for allegedly insulting Islam after wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Allah is lesbian."
