At least 89 countries have laws against blasphemy. To varying degrees, governments use blasphemy legislation to oppress their citizens. During this evening organised by de Balie, humanitarian activists who have risked their lives in rejecting state-enforced oppression will discuss how this relationship takes shape in practice. They will explore how, from a feminist perspective, blasphemy can be a form of resistance.

Prior to this program, the Freedom Lecture will be delivered by Siham Lachgar on behalf of her sister Betty, who is currently detained in Morocco. Ibtissame ‘Betty’ Lachgar wore a T-shirt with the words ‘Allah is Lesbian’ in London, in protest and in solidarity with two lesbian activists who had been sentenced to death in Iran. When she set foot in her home country, Morocco, Lachgar was arrested and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for blasphemy. During the Freedom Lecture, her sister Siham Lachgar speaks about political prisoners in Morocco.