Controversial Moroccan feminist receives prison sentence

The controversial trial surrounding the Moroccan feminist activist Ibtissame Lachgar has ended after Lachgar was sentenced to 30 months in Prison on September 3^rd, reports Franch24 via AFP.

Lachgar was found guilty of “Offending Islam” after she posted a picture of herself to social media wearing a t-shirt with the phrase “Allah is lesbian.”

Lachgar’s defence lawyer, Mohamed Khattab, told reporters that the sentence has been accompanied by a fine of 50,000 dirhams ($5,500).

He also added that Lachgar’s defence team plans to appeal the sentencing.

Lachgar is a 50-year-old activist for feminist and LGBT+ causes. Lachgar co-founded the Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties (MALI) in Morocco.

Lachgar’s activism has made her a divisive figure in Moroccan politics – she often dons shock-value attire and is known to deliberately provoke Moroccan authorities with evocative statements that challenge legislature around free-speech.

During an earlier hearing Lachgar told the judge her shirt was inscribed with a “feminist slogan which has existed for years, against sexist ideologies and violence against women… and has no connection to the Islamic faith.”

However, she penned a response to the charges on the social media platform X which read: “In Morocco, I walk around with t-shirts with messages against religions, Islam, etc. … Yes, Islam, like any religious ideology, is FASCIST, PHALLOCRATIC AND MISOGYNISTIC.”

The president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights has labelled the sentence “shocking” and an “attack” on free expression.

Reportedly Lachgar’s family and friends were seeing crying after the verdict was announced.

The sentence will draw further international attention to the rights around free speech in Morocco. Eyes were already drawn to the nation when they expelled international activists from the Western Sahara in August.

France24 via AFP, Maghrebi.org