/ / MOROCCO AND WESTERN SAHARA: FEMINIST AND LGBTI RIGHTS ACTIVIST IMPRISONED FOR PEACEFUL EXPRESSION

MOROCCO AND WESTERN SAHARA: FEMINIST AND LGBTI RIGHTS ACTIVIST IMPRISONED FOR PEACEFUL EXPRESSION

UA: 103.25

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Moroccan feminist and LGBTI rights defender, Ibtissame (“Betty”) Lachgar, is serving a 30-month prison sentence after being convicted of “causing harm to Islam” for posting on social media a photograph of herself wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan “Allah is lesbian.” Moroccan police arrested Ibtissame Lachgar on August 10, 2025, and a prosecutor ordered her pre-trial detention pending investigation on accusations of “intentional insult to Islam or sacred symbols.” On September 3, 2025, the Rabat First-Instance Court found her guilty under Article 267-5 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which criminalizes “intentional insult to Islam or sacred symbols” via publications, including online. She was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 dirhams (approximately 5500 USD). On October 8, 2025, the Rabat Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and sentence.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: June 30, 2026

Send a letter to Head of Government Aziz Akhanouch
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Scroll down to Step 1 and Step 2 to access the full Urgent Action appeal, sample letter, and U.S.P.S. mailing address (if available).

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Step 1

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Remember to send your letter by June 30, 2026.

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Sample Letter

Your Excellency,

I write to you to express my grave concern over the unjust imprisonment of feminist activist Ibtissame Lachgar who has been in arbitrary detention since August 10, 2025, simply for exercising her right to freedom of expression.

Lachgar was arrested, placed in detention, and prosecuted after she posted a photo of herself on social media wearing a black T-shirt reading “Allah is lesbian.” In the accompanying caption, she wrote critical remarks about Islam and other religions. The content of this post is protected expression under international human rights law which allows for the prohibition of expression only in very limited circumstances such as when it amounts to incitement to violence.

Lachgar is a cancer survivor and faces serious health complications, including a risk of losing the use of her left arm if she does not receive the urgent healthcare needed. Nonetheless, authorities denied multiple requests for her provisional release on medical grounds.

I urge you to immediately release Ibtissame Lachgar and quash her sentence and conviction which stem solely from her exercise of the right to freedom of expression. Pending her release, authorities must provide her with adequate healthcare that she urgently requires.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Sample Social Post

I urge @ChefGov_m to immediately release Ibtissame Lachgar and quash her sentence and conviction which stem solely from exercising her right to freedom of expression. Pending her release, provide her with adequate healthcare that she urgently requires #UrgentActionNetwork

Send a Tweet to @ChefGov_m

Step 2

Send your message

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Head of Government Aziz Akhanouch

Palais Royal Touarga, Rabat 10070,

Morocco

Fax: +212 53 7771010

@ChefGov_m

and

CC: Embassy of Morocco in the United States, Ambassador Youssef Amrani

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

3508 International Dr NW,

Washington, DC 20008

[email protected]

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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