The trial of prominent Moroccan feminist and LGBTQ+ activist Ibtissame “Betty” Lachgar has been delayed, extending a high-profile case that has stirred fierce debate over free expression in the country. Lachgar, co-founder of the Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties (MALI), was arrested after posting a photo of herself online wearing a T-shirt reading “Allah is a lesbian” and calling Islam “fascist, phallocratic, and misogynistic.” Authorities charged her with “offending Islam,” a crime in Morocco punishable by up to five years in prison and heavy fines.
The post sparked a storm of online outrage, with conservative voices demanding harsh punishment and supporters denouncing her arrest as an attack on civil liberties. Lachgar also reported receiving death threats following the incident. MALI, a secular feminist group, has long campaigned for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ visibility, and the separation of religion from politics—often clashing with Morocco’s conservative establishment.
Rights groups, both domestic and international, have urged the government to drop the charges, warning that the case could set a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech. The new trial date has not yet been set, leaving Lachgar’s supporters anxious and her critics determined to see her prosecuted.
