Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar, known for her advocacy for individual liberties, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights, has been placed in custody after a controversial social media post. In late July, Lachgar published a photo of herself wearing a t-shirt that read “Allah is lesbian.” The image was accompanied by a text that described Islam, “like any religious ideology,” as “fascist, phallocentric, and misogynistic.” The post quickly sparked outrage on social media, with many users calling for her arrest.
Investigation and Legal Action
Jeune Afrique magazine says the public prosecutor in Rabat announced on Sunday that an investigation had been opened and Lachgar was taken into custody “in accordance with the law.” The prosecutor’s statement cited the photo for containing “offensive expressions toward God” and the accompanying text for including an “insult to the Islamic religion.”
Lachgar had previously posted on Facebook that she was a victim of cyberharassment and had received “thousands of threats of rape, death, and calls for lynching and stoning” over what she called a “well-known feminist slogan.”
According to the prosecutor, as reported by Jeune Afrique, “the appropriate legal measures will be taken in light of the investigation’s results.” In Morocco, a person can be held in custody for up to 48 hours before the prosecutor decides whether to press charges.
Under Moroccan penal code, insulting Islam can lead to a prison sentence of six months to two years and a fine of 20,000 to 200,000 dirhams (approximately €2,000 to €20,000). If the “insult” is made publicly, including through electronic means, the sentence can be extended to up to five years in prison.
