Moroccan Feminist Arrested Over Blasphemy T-Shirt, Faces Legal Probe

Ibtissame Lachgar, a Moroccan feminist and LGBT rights activist, was arrested on charges of blasphemy after posting a photo of herself wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Allah is a lesbian." The Rabat Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation citing that her post contained offensive expressions towards God and insulted Islam. Her statement criticizing Islam as "fascist, phallocratic, and misogynistic" sparked significant backlash, including thousands of sexist insults, rape and death threats, and calls for stoning. Moroccan blasphemy laws criminalize public criticism of Islam, with penalties of up to five years in prison and fines. Lachgar co-founded the Mouvement alternatif pour les libertés individuelles (MALI), advocating for abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and individual freedoms. After three days of intense online harassment, she remains in custody pending prosecution decisions.