Date/Time
Date(s) - 15/09/2026
10:30 - 12:00
Location
Press Club Brussels Europe
Categories
IBTISSAME LACHGAR: INTERNATIONAL CALL FOR HER IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Conference organised by the Collectif Laïcité Yallah
in partnership with the Ligue du Droit International des Femmes (LDIF) and with the support of the International Feminist Front
RAISING THE ALARM OVER IBTISSAME LACHGAR’S CRITICAL SITUATION
The Collectif Laïcité Yallah and its partners wish to alert public opinion and international institutions to the critical situation of Ibtissame Lachgar, known as Betty, a clinical psychologist, feminist and secular activist who has been imprisoned in Morocco since 10 August 2025 for “offending Islam”.
Ibtissame Lachgar was sentenced to 30 months in prison for posting on social media, in solidarity with two Iranian lesbian activists sentenced to death, a photograph of herself taken in London wearing a T-shirt bearing the words: “Allah is lesbian.”
Prosecuted under Article 267-5 of the Moroccan Criminal Code, her conviction sets a deeply troubling precedent: it represents a serious and dangerous extension of Moroccan provisions criminalising blasphemy to expression that took place outside Moroccan territory and violates the fundamental principles of freedom of opinion and expression enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
A survivor of bone cancer who has a total humeral prosthesis, Betty’s health is deteriorating severely in detention. She is suffering from significant pain related to the loosening of her prosthesis in the shoulder and elbow area.
A medical assessment has warned of the seriousness of her condition. Without appropriate and urgent medical care, she faces irreversible consequences, including the possible amputation of an arm, as well as complications that could put her life at risk.
AN INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION
We are launching an international urgent action calling for:
- the immediate release of Ibtissame Lachgar;
- her immediate access to appropriate medical care;
- the repeal of provisions criminalising blasphemy and criticism of religions.
Criticism of a religion is a fundamental right, just as is the right to criticise any idea, doctrine or political ideology.
We are calling upon the following individuals and institutions to act:
Andrea Bolaños Vargas — United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Leopoldo Maldonado Gutiérrez — United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression
United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD)
Michael O’Flaherty — Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights
Michael McGrath — European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection
Hadja Lahbib — European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management
Mounir Satouri — Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI)
Delegation of the European Union to Morocco
SPEAKERS AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
Djemila Benhabib
Political scientist and writer, President of Collectif Laïcité Yallah
Alexis Deswaef
President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
Mahtab Ghorbani
Writer, poet and human rights activist, political refugee in France
Annie Sugier
Physicist and essayist, President of the Ligue du Droit International des Femmes (LDIF)
Olivia Venet
Lawyer, Honorary President of the Belgian Human Rights League
PRESS CONTACT
Djemila Benhabib
President, Collectif Laïcité Yallah
Tel.: +32 470 05 70 93
Email: djemila.benhabib@laicite.net