Ibtissame Lachgar, a 50-year-old Moroccan feminist, is facing a grave medical crisis behind bars, all because of a T-shirt. Last September, she was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for posting a photo of herself wearing a shirt that read “Allah is a lesbian.” This slogan was deemed “offensive to Islam,” leading to her conviction and imprisonment.
But her fight for freedom of expression has now become a desperate struggle for her health. Ibtissame, a bone cancer survivor, wears a prosthesis in her left arm. Disturbingly, while in Salé prison, her prosthesis has “completely dislodged” after a fractured elbow, and doctors warn she faces amputation without urgent specialist treatment. Her lawyer describes her decline as “alarming,” highlighting the inhumane conditions she endures, including solitary confinement and a cold cell without a mattress.
Ibtissame’s controversial T-shirt was more than just a statement; it was an act of solidarity. She first wore it in 2022 to support LGBTQ+ activists in Iran facing death sentences, later reposting it with a powerful message against religious ideology. This act of defiance sparked severe online backlash, filled with threats and hate.
Now, her sister, Siham Lachgar, stresses the critical need for specialist care in France to save Ibtissame’s limb. International human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, alongside Avaaz, have formed a ‘Free Betty’ coalition, gathering nearly 400,000 signatures on a petition for her release. They argue her conviction blatantly violates Morocco’s commitment to freedom of expression.
Ibtissame Lachgar is not just fighting for her freedom, but for her very body. Her case shines a harsh light on the grave consequences activists face when fundamental rights are suppressed.
Source: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/woman-jailed-wearing-allah-lesbian-36794191
