Moroccan Feminist Activist Ibtissame Lachgar's Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal
A court in Rabat, Morocco, has upheld the two-and-a-half-year prison sentence against feminist activist Ibtissame Lachgar on Monday, October 6, 2025. She was initially convicted on charges of "insulting Islam" for a social media post featuring a controversial t-shirt. The defense team plans to appeal the decision and seek an alternative sentence.
Details of the Case
Ibtissame Lachgar, 50, a prominent figure in the MALI (Alternative Movement for Individual Freedoms) movement, sparked controversy in late July when she shared a photo online wearing a t-shirt with text deemed offensive to the Muslim religion. The image was accompanied by a text describing Islam "as any religious ideology" as fascist, phallocrat, and misogynist. This led to her initial arrest and subsequent conviction.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Strategy
Following the appellate court's decision, Me Ghizlane Mamouni, one of Lachgar's lawyers, stated that the defense will file a "request for sentence adjustment" to convert the prison sentence into an "alternative penalty" and pursue an appeal to the Court of Cassation. The activist's sister, Siham Lachgar, voiced strong concerns about Ibtissame's physical and mental well-being under the current detention conditions.
Controversial Law and Freedom of Expression
Lachgar was prosecuted under Article 267-5 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which punishes offenses against the Muslim religion with imprisonment ranging from six months to two years, potentially extending to five years if committed publicly, including online. Human rights advocates have criticized this law as an infringement on freedom of expression, with some calling Lachgar's arrest arbitrary. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also called on Moroccan authorities to urgently overturn the sentence.
Ibtissame Lachgar's Activism and Background
A clinical psychologist, Ibtissame Lachgar co-founded MALI in 2009 and has been a long-standing advocate for individual freedoms in Morocco. The organization has organized several high-profile campaigns against violence against women and pedophilia. Previously, her activism led to confrontations with authorities in 2016 and 2018, though without any formal charges until this case.
Reactions and Support
The case has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations and sparked support rallies, including a collage created by a feminist collective in Avignon, France. During the initial trial, Lachgar explained that the t-shirt represented a feminist slogan against sexist ideologies and violence against women, unrelated to Islam itself. Despite the explanations, the court proceeded with the conviction and sentencing.
