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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminist activist sent to prison for ‘Allah is lesbian’ T-shirt - Morocco

239 replies

IwantToRetire · 05/09/2025 01:48

A feminist activist has been sent to prison for two-and-a-half years because of messages on a T-shirt she wore in a selfie posted online.

The shirt featured the word “Allah” in Arabic, followed by the words “is lesbian” in English.

Ibtissam Lachgar was charged with blasphemy and with disseminating the image online.

She was found guilty of violating part of Morocco’s criminal code that outlaws offending the monarchy or Islam, her lawyer, Naïma El Guellaf, said.

A member of Ms Lachgar’s legal team said they plan to appeal the conviction.

Article continues at https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/morocco-islam-prison-ibtissam-lachgar-b2819995.html

Feminist activist sent to prison for ‘Allah is lesbian’ T-shirt

The jailing of Ibtissam Lachgar has incensed human rights groups

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/morocco-islam-prison-ibtissam-lachgar-b2819995.html

OP posts:
Simplestars · 27/09/2025 21:31

She is saying God is a lesbian?

Allah means God in Arabic.

So she could offend anyone who is following a faith and finds it offensive.

I just think she is daft and attention seeking.

IwantToRetire · 27/09/2025 21:43

IwantToRetire · 08/09/2025 01:17

Freedom of expression lives where offence begins: In defence of Ibtissame Betty Lachgar
Maryam Namazie - Ex Mulims international

Freedom of expression lives where offence begins. To offend is to question certainty, to strip the sacred of its privilege, and to laugh in the face of fear and threats. A society that bans offence bans thought itself.

Morocco is the latest case in point. Since 10 August, feminist and human rights activist Ibtissame Betty Lachgar has been in prison because of an ‘Allah is Lesbian’ t-shirt she has worn for years. What changed was not the t-shirt but the cyber-threats she received after she posted another photo of herself wearing it at the end of July.

Anonymous accounts linked to a coordinated campaign by the ‘Moorish identity movement’, a far-right network known for cyber-harassment, issued countless rape and death threats, even tagging Morocco’s National Security. Prosecutors responded not by protecting Betty from the incitement to violence, but by persecuting her.

Article continues at https://freethinker.co.uk/2025/09/freedom-of-expression-lives-where-offence-begins-in-defence-of-ibtissame-betty-lachgar/

Although I started this thread, I gave up following it, as it became yet another one where comments are based not on facts, but presumptions of those commenting.

eg as made clear in the statement in the post quoted:

Betty Lachgar has been in prison because of an ‘Allah is Lesbian’ t-shirt she has worn for years. What changed was not the t-shirt but the cyber-threats she received after she posted another photo of herself wearing it at the end of July.

Anonymous accounts linked to a coordinated campaign by the ‘Moorish identity movement’, a far-right network known for cyber-harassment, issued countless rape and death threats, even tagging Morocco’s National Security. Prosecutors responded not by protecting Betty from the incitement to violence, but by persecuting her.

So in others words her arrest was instigated by a hostile right wing campaign.

Nothing to do with all those saying she shouldn't have done it.

What happened is the same as cyber TRAs getting someone had up for a hate crime, but targetting them.

There are many on FWR who for instance are wary or actively dislike how Glinner expresses himself. But surely not to the extent of egging on the authorities to harass, and even arrest him.

I. Betty Lachgar ♀️🔥 (@IbtissameBetty) on X

@Dozionys @CasusLady @ZeratoR @ZEVENTFR Au Maroc je me balade avec des t-shirts avec des messages contre les religions, l'islam etc. On fait des collages avec @MALImaroc Vous nous fatiguez avec vos bondieuseries, vos accusations. Oui l'islam, comme to...

https://x.com/ibtissamebetty/status/1951019429069717764?s=46&t=uAshuwePRJnzh7_CEticsA

OP posts:
MusettasWaltz · 27/09/2025 21:54

Simplestars · 27/09/2025 21:31

She is saying God is a lesbian?

Allah means God in Arabic.

So she could offend anyone who is following a faith and finds it offensive.

I just think she is daft and attention seeking.

Do you think she should be pinished for offending?

Can't you see she KNOWS it is, and is protesting the unjust law, not 'attention seeking'?

Simplestars · 28/09/2025 06:45

MusettasWaltz · 27/09/2025 21:54

Do you think she should be pinished for offending?

Can't you see she KNOWS it is, and is protesting the unjust law, not 'attention seeking'?

I get she is trying to be.

I still think she is daft.
Equally I don't think anyone should be sensitive to be offended.

Bobbymoore123 · 29/09/2025 12:37

We can all acknowledge that what she did may have been against Moroccan law (an idiot could point this out) but if your thoughts on the matter stop there then you shouldn't be calling yourself a feminist.

I'm sure there are Facebook groups full of bald men who have more enlightened discussions than this place.

Bobbymoore123 · 29/09/2025 12:39

Wherehasthecatgone · 08/09/2025 14:12

No, that is a ‘sex realist’ position. The gender critical position is that gender is a harmful social construct that should be removed. You can only be a feminist if you are critical of gender.

Stop trying to talk sense to these people. They don't yet know the meanings of "gender-critical" or "feminism" despite how many people have tried to teach them.

Alicealig · 29/09/2025 12:50

Bobbymoore123 · 29/09/2025 12:39

Stop trying to talk sense to these people. They don't yet know the meanings of "gender-critical" or "feminism" despite how many people have tried to teach them.

I'm yet to even meet a feminist who knows or understands what feminism is not to mention to be able to give it a definition. It's not a group of people we'll known for their clarity

MusettasWaltz · 29/09/2025 20:02

Alicealig · 29/09/2025 12:50

I'm yet to even meet a feminist who knows or understands what feminism is not to mention to be able to give it a definition. It's not a group of people we'll known for their clarity

What a foolish comment, ironically not 'we'll' clarified either. You've never met a feminism who understands what it is or can define it? Do you think no one on FWR can define it?

Feminism means, to quote Gloria Steinem, whose preferred definition is also mine, 'acknowledging the equality and full humanity of women with men'.

The dictionary definition is "an advocate of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes'.

Obviously like all movements there are different branches & eras : first-wave, second-wave, third-wave in the UK & US, other countries emphasising different aspects, then gender critical vs TWAW, difference feminism vs no-difference, radical vs liberal feminism, 'sex work is work' vs anti-prostitution, lesbian feminism, Catholic feminism, etc Plenty of these groups will disagree with each other on a lot, but they will all affirm that women are equal to men and should be treated as such & will advocate for what they perceive as women's rights issues.

That's not unique. There are Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox Christians, and within those branches like Quakers, Universalists, Calvinists, sedecavantist Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, Mennonites, Anabaptists etc etc They all, however, share the core belief that Jesus is our Lord and saviour.

MusettasWaltz · 29/09/2025 20:04

Simplestars · 28/09/2025 06:45

I get she is trying to be.

I still think she is daft.
Equally I don't think anyone should be sensitive to be offended.

Fair enough. It seems unlikely that Moroccan Muslims or even Muslims in general are going to stop being offended if they perceive someone insults Allah. Offence is fine as long as no one is put in prison etc

MusettasWaltz · 29/09/2025 20:06

RhannionKPSS · 27/09/2025 21:28

Imo what she did was foolish, and it’s not the first time either. Brave is a word i would use to describe the women of the SOE in WW2, not a loose cannon like Betty, who I happen to know , and whose actions have made absolutely no difference to anything or anyone except herself.

Seems harsh...may I ask how you know her? What makes you describe her as a 'loose cannon'?

Even if she is, how is or NOT brave to risk prison? Are Morrocan prisons cushy??

Plus apparently she has cancer? Even braver to risk prison with that...

Your comment seems rather callous given these circumstances.

RhannionKPSS · 06/10/2025 19:34

I’m not “ callous “ In my opinion I think she is foolish and this isn’t the first time she has been in this situation. She isn’t helping raise awareness of anything, or doing something that will make a difference to anyone or anything.

AstonScrapingsNameChange · 06/10/2025 21:29

CopperWhite · 05/09/2025 07:10

I have no sympathy at all. Common sense would have told her that she would cause religious offence to some people and she chose to do it anyway.

True. But to go to jail for 2.5 years for a slogan on a t shirt seems ludicrous, no? No one has been hurt or maimed.

I can't believe how many people are saying 'meh whatever she should have known'.

I'd be interested to see whether a man would have got a shorter sentence.

OP posts:
IwantToRetire · 27/02/2026 17:59

Moroccan activist Betty Lachgar to receive 2026 Avijit Roy Courage Award
https://ffrf.org/news/releases/moroccan-activist-betty-lachgar-to-receive-2026-avijit-roy-courage-award/

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