Moroccan Activist Jailed for Blasphemy Sparks Controversy

Rabat (Morocco), Sep 1 (AP) - A Moroccan court has sentenced prominent feminist activist Ibtissam Lachgar to two and a half years in prison and fined her USD 5,000 for blasphemy, a case that has raised alarms among human rights groups and captured widespread attention.

The ruling was delivered late Wednesday night, where the presiding judge found Lachgar guilty of violating Morocco's criminal code. The charges stem from a selfie Lachgar posted online, featuring a T-shirt with messages deemed offensive to the monarchy and Islam, as reported by her lawyer Naïma El Geullaf to The Associated Press.

Lachgar was charged with blasphemy and disseminating the image online. Her legal team, planning an appeal, argues against the conviction.

“Not only is this verdict unjust, but it also threatens the freedom of speech and opinion," remarked Hamid Sikouk of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights to the AP.

At the hearing, a visibly fatigued Lachgar, wearing a headscarf, clarified to the judge that her intention was not to offend Islam. She stated that the T-shirt conveyed a political message opposing sexist ideologies and violence against women.

Her defense argued that the online post did not insult Islam.

“God is not only for Muslims but also for Christians and Jews. I don't see any offense to Islam in that publication,” lawyer El Guellaf told the court. She added, “I am Muslim myself, and I don't feel offended by it.” Another attorney, Souad Brahma, head of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, expressed concerns over a potential regression in human rights in the kingdom and noted that Lachgar's comments addressed religions in general, not solely Islam.

The defense contended that the T-shirt falls under freedom of expression, a constitutional right in Morocco, and argued that the charges are unconstitutional. The shirt bore writing relating to the sexual identity of a deity and labeled Islam as fascist and misogynistic.

Lachgar, a 50-year-old psychologist, is a co-founder of the Alternative Movement for Individual Freedoms (MALI). Known for her provocative activism, she is an outspoken advocate for the rights of women and LGBTQ communities in Morocco.

Her arrest has polarized public opinion in Morocco, with some perceiving it as a just response to provocation, while others see it as a breach of democratic principles and freedom of speech. Though Morocco is considered politically moderate compared to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, same-sex relations remain illegal, and certain types of speech can lead to criminal charges.

Lachgar has campaigned for the decriminalization of sex outside of marriage, which is currently illegal. She garnered attention over a decade ago when she organized a demonstration outside Morocco's parliament, with couples kissing to show support for two teenagers facing indecency charges after posting a photo of themselves kissing on Facebook. (AP) RD RD

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