A high-profile arrest in Morocco has reignited the debate over freedom of expression and the protection of religious beliefs. Feminist activist Ibtissame Lachgar, a prominent figure in the fight for individual rights, was taken into custody on Tuesday, accused of “offending the Islamic religion.”
A post that triggered controversy
The charges stem from a photo posted on social media in late July. In the image, Lachgar is seen wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Allah” in Arabic, followed by the phrase “is lesbian.” The post also included a caption in which she described Islam, “like all religious ideologies,” as “fascist, phallocratic and misogynistic.” The image and her remarks sparked outrage online, with some users calling for her immediate arrest.
Prosecutors confirmed that Lachgar is being charged under Article 267-5 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which punishes any offense against the Muslim religion with six months to two years in prison. The sentence can rise to five years if the act is committed publicly, “including electronically.” Human rights advocates have long criticized this law, arguing that it curtails free speech and is often used to silence criticism of religion. No trial date has been announced yet.
A career of defiance
Lachgar co-founded the Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties (MALI) in 2009, a group known for defending the right not to fast during Ramadan and opposing Article 222 of the Penal Code. That same year, the movement organized a picnic during Ramadan in protest of the law. Since then, MALI has launched numerous campaigns against gender-based violence and child sexual abuse, cementing Lachgar’s reputation as a leading voice for personal freedoms in Morocco.
Her activism has frequently put her at odds with the authorities. In 2016, she was detained in Rabat for “disturbing public order,” an arrest her supporters deemed unjustified. Two years later, she spent 24 hours in custody after campaigning for abortion rights, with local media citing “public drunkenness” among the charges. In recent weeks, Lachgar has reported being the target of online harassment, claiming she has received “thousands of threats of rape, death, lynching, and stoning” following the uproar over her post.
Her imprisonment has now brought the debate over free expression back into sharp focus in Morocco. Between defending faith and protecting individual rights, the country finds itself at the center of an ideological battle that is polarizing public opinion.