Ibtissame Betty Lachgar, a Moroccan secularist, feminist, ex-Muslim and LGBT rights campaigner was arrested on 10 August 2025 in Rabat, Morocco for her photo on social media wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “Allah is Lesbian.” ‘Betty has worn the same T-shirt for many years now. The arrest follows a pile-on of threats of rape, death, lynching and stoning orchestrated by the religious-Right.
On the day of her trial in Rabat on 27 August, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. Ex-Muslims International and Faithless Hijabi have organised a protest at the Moroccan Embassy in London demanding #FreeBetty.
Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025
Time: 3–4 PM
Location: Moroccan Embassy, 49 Queen’s Gate Gardens, London SW7 5NE
On 12 August, Betty was presented to the prosecutor and remanded in pre-trial detention. A first hearing on 13 August was postponed to 27 August; the request for provisional release was denied. Betty has been held in pre-trial detention, facing up to 5 years in prison for a T-shirt. As a cancer survivor with a prosthetic arm requiring surgery, there are added risks to her life and well-being if she is not immediately released.
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain Spokesperson Maryam Namazie says:
“It is always the non-violent expression of freethinkers that is branded ‘offensive’ and criminal. Yet the religious offend women, LGBT, ex-Muslims and non-believers every single day. That offence never counts, because religion is privileged, and because the ‘hurt feelings’ of the pious often come with threats of violence and murder. That is exactly why Betty sits in prison for a T-shirt, facing five years, while those issuing death, rape and lynching threats — even while tagging the security services — remain free to incite hatred. To those cowards who state that Betty has a right to speak but must not ‘offend’, I have a question: what is so scandalous about calling ‘Allah a Lesbian?’ Popular songs proclaim ‘God is a woman.’ Outrage only follows if you think being a lesbian is shameful. And that is precisely Betty’s point.”
Veiled Rose, speaking on behalf of Faithless Hijabi says:
“To prosecute a woman for peacefully expressing her views is a blatant violation of freedom of conscience and freedom of expression. Betty’s lifelong commitment to women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and human rights has harmed no one—yet she faces punishment simply for speaking her mind. Silencing voices like hers does not protect faith, it only exposes the fragility of dogma. We call on the Moroccan authorities to drop all charges immediately and uphold the universal rights to free belief, dissent, and equality.”
Haram Doodles, speaking on behalf of Ex-Muslims International says:
“Betty’s care, advocacy and impact can be seen through her global collaboration and Moroccan movement for human rights, freedoms and secularism. It’s 2025. How is the world still allowing oppressive blasphemy and apostasy laws to protect religion and the religious in power instead of humans?”
For more information, contact:
Maryam Namazie, exmuslimcouncil@gmail.com
#FreeBetty #EndBlasphemyLaws #EndApostophobia
https://ex-muslims.international/
https://www.faithlesshijabi.org/