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

[IwantToRetire]

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

Blasphemy laws should not exist anywhere. The entire concept is immoral.

It is sad to see people defending the punishment for this.

I accept that the punishment happens, because sometimes protesting means accepting the punishment that comes in the jurisdiction. It is unfair that the protest needs to happen and someone needs to face those consequences, but accepting that punishment can itself be part of the protest.

That doesn’t mean I agree with it. Facing punishment for blasphemy should never happen and joining the chorus to say it is acceptable because it’s a different county is disturbing.

At a guess it ia that she should be free to pratice her belief system?
Which clearly the State dont agree with.

Or that her god can be female and love women ( in every way) more than men?
This is the idea blows minds the idea that god would choose to appear as a human woman.....

Well. That wasn’t a clever thing to do.

in the same token, someone wearing a plasticine action t shirt in the Uk can be arrested: so we don’t really have the moral high ground now, do we?

So one shouldn't disobey an unjust law? Do you think blasphemy laws are OK then?

Alicealig is certainly not a feminist judging by interactions I've had with her elsewhere on here...

I must admit I had a quick look late last night after I started the thread and thought it must be the US participants.

Comments are shocking, but also which is becoming another problem, nobody bothers to read the full article.

It makes starting threads a bit depressing because if you pick out a few bits you can bet the whole thread will be hijacked by someone who gets fixated on one bit.

The article is about a women who whether she calls herself a feminist or not isn't the issue.

The defence said wearing the T-shirt fell under freedom of expression, a constitutional right in Morocco, and called the charges unconstitutional.

Long known for provocative activism, Ms Lachgar, 50, is a psychologist and co-founder of the Alternative Movement for Individuals Freedoms, known by its French acronym MALI.

Whether her form of protest is one any of us would do isn't the issue.

It is about the supposed right to free speech.

Which in Morocco seems not to exist if you want to talk about the Monarchy or Isalm

And as a Moroccan she must have been aware of the likely punishment.

Some might even think her brave.

And just as I think that in the UK we have a right to protest I support her right.

Admittedly I would have a different response if some european tourist turned up and did the same.

I would actually like to hear the official explanation as to why saying Allah is a Lesbian is offensive.

For saying Allah is a woman.

For saying Allah is same sex attracted.

I wonder if in fact in choosing this slogan she has lost the support of those in Morocco who want to support free speech.

The point was surely to get arrested as protest. Not done out of ignorance.

So you think blasphemy laws are OK?

Does seem really strange that on FWR no one understands that sometimes taking a stand on an issue you are totally committed to could lead to being arrested.

The right to free speech, presumably with a particular focus on women's and lesbian rights. Not rocket science...

So you think blasphemy laws are OK? Nice.

She is Moroccan and a citizen, read the article. Do you support blasphemy laws?

Looking at those posters, most making that sort of comment are not FWR regulars, look at one asking what FWR is, for one thing...I think the thread got into active and some idiots came out.

So you think blasphemy laws are OK?

I doubt she's stupid. She is deliberately protesting for free speech, esp around controversial issues to do w lesbian rights and feminism.

Why should she have 'known better'? Why aren't you applauding her courage at protesting these unjust laws? So women should just shut up and know their place then?

Do you agree w blasphemy laws then?

Free speech must allow offence or it is nothing.

She was making a deliberate protest. A brave woman.

Do you support this blasphemy law?

'Need removing from society', 'public menace' 'think twice before being so insulting and narcissistic' - very aggressive language to describe a woman wearing a T shirt.

Do you really believe Moroccans are so delicate and fragile that this woman is a danger to them?

May I ask if you are a Muslim?

2 1/2 years for wearing a t-shirt in an online photo, not even in public! That is crazy.

She's not a visitor. She's a MOROCCAN woman, campaigning in her own country for women's rights.

Have we forgotten the suffragettes? Or MLK, Mandela & Gandhi's movements...? 🤦‍♀️

Yes, an even weirder that on a forum that's normally suspicious of Islam, people are defending draconian blasphemy laws!

I feel like the feminist cavalry has arrived. Thanks @AliasGrace47

The Iranian regime released Ahoo Daryae (who protested the hijab laws by removing all of her clothes) probably because of the publicity. It would be good to get a similar result.

Even the concept of “offending Islam” is wrong headed. What they mean is offended muslims. It shows a lack of philosophical introspection imo. In the UK (at the moment) there is no law against offending a religion as a religion cannot legally be a party (I don’t know the correct legal terms). You can’t sue a religion for example, you can sue institutions or people.

I imagine she fully knows what would happen and she is drumming up support for the freedom of expression. I wish her well.

Thanks! I must get on w work, but couldn't leave such infuriating responses unanswered. People should think twice before condoning blasphemy laws and condemning peaceful protest, surprised that needs to be said!