Human rights and LGBTQ+ activist Ibtissam ‘Betty’ Lachgar arrested in Morocco for wearing T-shirt saying 'Allah is a lesbian'
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Campaigners are calling for the release of a woman arrested in Morocco for ‘offending Islam’ after she wore a T-shirt saying 'Allah is a lesbian'.
The Moroccan Public Prosecutor's Office announced yesterday - Sunday, 10 August - it had taken human rights activist Ibtissam ‘Betty’ Lachgar into police custody after she posted a photo of herself on social media wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “Allah [in Arabic] is lesbian”, according to Le Monde.
The public prosecutor at the Rabat Court of First Instance said an investigation into Lachgar had been opened “in accordance with the law”, following the publication of the photo containing “offensive expressions towards God” and text “containing an offence to the Islamic religion”.
They added: “Appropriate legal measures will be taken in light of the results of the investigation”. Police custody in Morocco is generally for 48 hours. The prosecutor will then decide on the prosecution of the defendant.
Au Maroc je me balade avec des t-shirts avec des messages contre les religions, l'islam etc. On fait des collages avec @MALImaroc
— I. Betty Lachgar ♀️🔥 (@IbtissameBetty) July 31, 2025
Vous nous fatiguez avec vos bondieuseries, vos accusations. Oui l'islam, comme toute idéoligie religieuse, est FASCISTE. PHALLOCRATE ET MISOGYNE. pic.twitter.com/o7H91acDwo
Morocco has blasphemy laws which criminalise publications or media expressions that criticise Islam. The maximum penalty for causing public “outrage” for criticising Islam is five years and/or a fine.
Betty Lachgar, a well-known Moroccan advocate for the rights of women and LGBTQ+ people, is scheduled to speak at a UK feminist conference, FiLiA2025, in Brighton in October.
Lisa-Marie Taylor, CEO of FiLiA, called for her immediate release: “We are proud to platform women who speak truth to power - including those who challenge and criticise religion - because this is, fundamentally, a feminist issue.
“Silencing women for ‘blasphemy’ is a violation of their human rights and an attack on women’s freedom to think, speak, and live without fear”.
The National Secular Society [NSS], which campaigns against blasphemy laws, also called for Lachgar’s release.
Megan Manson, NSS' head of campaigns, said: “Blasphemy laws have no place anywhere.
“Freedom of expression must include freedom to criticise religion – even when that means offending religious sentiments."
