Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a strong rebuke on Thursday, demanding the immediate exoneration and release of Moroccan activist Ibtissame Lachgar, currently serving a 30-month prison sentence. Lachgar's offense was posting an image online wearing a T-shirt with the slogan “Allah is lesbian,” which led to her being convicted by the Rabat First Instance Court of "causing harm to Islam." She was also fined 50,000 Moroccan dirhams (about US$5,500).

The severity of Lachgar's punishment underscores significant ongoing restrictions on free expression in Morocco, despite constitutional assurances and a 2016 press law that purportedly ended prison sentences for press-related offenses. HRW criticized the sentence as a severe infringement on free speech rights in the country.

The case highlights the broader issue of how Moroccan authorities handle expressions that deviate from state-sanctioned norms. Despite legal frameworks that suggest protections, enforcement often contradicts these guarantees. According to reports by Freedom House, Moroccan journalists and activists are frequently targeted under charges like "false news," defamation, or undermining state security, effectively bypassing the supposed press protections.

Moreover, while King Mohammed VI has issued royal pardons to some journalists in July 2024, the overall climate for media and independent journalism in Morocco remains oppressive. Independent voices are continuously under duress, and the country's media landscape is criticized for lacking genuine diversity, serving predominantly as a veneer for governmental narratives.

The international community, along with local rights groups, continues to monitor the situation in Morocco closely, advocating for reforms that genuinely uphold the freedom of expression and protect the rights of all citizens, particularly those daring to voice dissent.