A Moroccan court has sentenced activist Ibtissame Lachgar to 30 months in prison for blasphemy, her lawyer confirmed.

The 50-year-old clinical psychologist and prominent rights advocate was arrested last month after sharing a controversial slogan on her t-shirt.

The court in Rabat also imposed a fine of 50,000 dirhams (approximately $5,500). Defence lawyer Mohamed Khattab stated that the legal team intends to appeal the ruling.

Emotional scenes unfolded outside the courtroom as friends and family of Lachgar wept upon hearing the verdict.

The President of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights described the sentence as “shocking” and an infringement on freedom of expression.

During a previous hearing, Lachgar defended her message, stating that it was intended as a feminist slogan aimed at combating sexist ideologies and violence against women, emphasising that it had no connection to religious beliefs.