LGBT rights in Morocco

Article 489 of the Penal Code of Morocco criminalises "lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex".[2] Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Morocco and can be punished with anything from six months to three years' imprisonment and a fine of 120 to 1,200 dirhams.[3][4] The Moroccan government uses the law as a way to police members of the LGBT+ community. When one is arrested in Morocco for a suspected homosexual act, their name becomes publicized outing the individual regardless as to whether they are homosexual or not.[5] However, the law is sporadically enforced by the authorities,[4] with a degree of tolerance extended to homosexuality in the holiday resorts like Marrakesh.[4] The legal status of LGBT people living in Morocco stems largely from traditional Islamic morality, which views homosexuality and cross dressing as signs of immorality.[6]

In 2016, two girls were arrested in Marrakesh after one's cousin took a photo of them kissing. This sparked international outcry and the use of the hashtag #freethegirls. Their case was postponed until December 2016.[7] In early December 2016, the two girls were acquitted.[8]

In May 2019, in the evaluation by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the partnership with the Moroccan Parliament in the framework of the Partnership for Democracy Status, the parliamentary assembly called the Moroccan Parliament to stop enforcing the "criminal law provisions criminalising homosexual relations or relations between two persons of the opposite-sex do not have a marriage union." until its repeal.[9][10][11]

None of the major or minor political parties have made public statements in favour of LGBT-rights and no LGBT rights legislation has been enacted. Government attitudes towards homosexuality tend to be in the interests of the protection of the tradition of the country, in keeping with the culture's traditional gender roles and religious mores. It has banned books on homosexuality and required schools to teach a curriculum that "emphasises...the danger and depravity of "unnatural acts".[12] Moreover, on 21 March 2008, a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior revealed the full and wide scope of the government's agenda: to "preserve citizens' ethics and defend our society against all irresponsible actions that mar our identity and culture".[13]

In terms of foreign policy, the government opposed the participation of an International Gay and Lesbian Rights Representative at the 2001 United Nations Conference on AIDS-HIV. They also opposed a United Nations joint statement condemning violence against LGBT people.[4]

There is no legal recognition of same-sex couples.

There is no law against discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in Morocco.

Traditional cultural and religious mores tend to associate cross-dressing with homosexuality. Culturally, certain forms of cross-dressing have been tolerated in areas where women were not a part. The initial lack of female actors meant that the roles often went to men, who were generally assumed to be homosexual, but were shown a modicum of tolerance.

In the 1950s, the publicity surrounding Coccinelle helped to establish Casablanca as being a place where certain doctors were willing to perform sex change operations, albeit in clandestine circumstances.[14]

Today, it is unclear whether this reputation still exists or what the current government policy is for transgender people. A Moroccan transgender woman named Randa did reportedly publish a book, although little is known about its contents or commercial success.[15]

Moroccan public opinion towards the LGBT community is generally negative, in alignment with attitudes about LGBT rights in much of the Muslim world. The country has a male-dominated culture, a patriarchial society with traditional gender roles, that prefers a male and a female to get married and have children.[14] The government has continued to enforce the laws on homosexuality with several public arrests in a laid back fashion, although the laws are only enforced sporadically nonetheless.

A court in Ksar el-Kebir, a small city about 120 kilometres south of Tangier, convicted six men on 10 December 2007 of violating article 489 of Morocco's penal code. However, according to the defendants' lawyers, the prosecution failed to present any evidence that the men actually had engaged in the prohibited conduct.[16]

The men were sentenced to varying terms on 17 December 2007, after a video circulated online—including on YouTube—purporting to show a private party, allegedly including the men, taking place in Ksar el-Kebir on 18 November. Press reports claimed the party was a "gay marriage." Following the arrests, dozens of men and women marched through the streets of Ksar el-Kebir, denouncing the men's alleged actions and calling for their punishment.[2]

In 2010, the government permitted openly gay singer Elton John to give a performance during the Mawazine Festival, despite objections from the Justice and Development Party, which was, at the time, the biggest opposition party in parliament.[17] The festival was condoned by King Mohammed VI and was a part of the king's plans to create a more open and modern nation.[17]

Abdellah Taïa and Rachid O., both successful writers, have written openly about gender roles and sexual identity in Morocco, but they do not reside in Morocco. Beyond these writers, the government has tolerated the existence of one magazine for the gay community as well as one gay rights organization.

The LGBT publication Mithly has been allowed to be discreetly distributed to adults in Morocco, although the government still will not grant the publication a distribution license and the magazine itself has to be made in neighboring Spain.[15] In a similar sense, the government will not officially recognize the LGBT rights organization, Kif-Kif, but has allowed it to exist and co-sponsor some educational seminars.[15]

In 2017, following the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, Mustafa Ramid, former Minister of Justice and Liberties in Abdelilah Benkirane's and Saadeddine Othmani's governments has called homosexuals "trash" in an interview. This was criticised by local human rights associations which together signed a petition addressed to the Prime Minister of Morocco Othmani to open an investigation with Minister Ramid "on his discriminatory and unconstitutional statements towards sexual minorities".[18][19][20]

In the 2018-19 Arab Barometer survey, 21% of the Moroccan respondents said homosexuality is acceptable.[21]

In April, 2020 the Human Rights Watch reported of a campaign of online harassment in Morocco where people would go on same-sex dating apps to out other users, and on April 24, the Moroccan national security stated that the police have opened a "preliminary investigation" for "incitement to hatred and discrimination".[22][23]

Kif-Kif is the only organization to advocate on behalf of the LGBT community in Morocco and publishes the Mithly magazine in Spain. Established in 2004, it has not been given legal recognition by the Department of the Interior, but it has been unofficially permitted to organize certain educational seminars.[15][24] Hajar Moutaouakil, a young Moroccan lesbian, posted a video on YouTube on human rights day calling for love and tolerance, but the video created controversy. She later posted her biography online.

• Adolescent Reproductive Health in Morocco: Status, Issues, Policies, and Programs by Julia Beamish and Lina Tazi Abderrazik.
• Audacity in Adversity: LGBT Activism in the Middle East and North Africa.Audacity in Adversity | LGBT Activism in the Middle East and North Africa
• Homosexuality in Morocco: Between cultural influences and life experience by Imane Kendili, Soumia Berrada, and Nadia Kadiri
• Human Rights Council, Resolution 27/32: Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, A/HRC/RES/27/32, 2 October 2014
• Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Morocco: The treatment of homosexuals, including protection offered by the state and the attitude of the population, 5 March 2007. 8 May 2019.
• "Love is Not a Crime": Goals of the Gay Movement in Morocco by Bella Pori and Professor Paul Martin. "Love is Not a Crime": Goals of the Gay Movement in Morocco

• Abdellah Taïa
• Human rights in Morocco
• Human rights in Western Sahara—Morocco controls 80 percent of this disputed territory
• LGBT rights in Africa
• Rachid O.

• Puterbaugh, Geoff. Africa, North. Encyclopedia of Homosexuality. Dynes, Wayne R. (ed.), Garland Publishing, 1990. pp. 19–22.
• (in Italian) Patanè, Vincenzo. Arabi e noi. DeriveApprodi, 2002.

• GayMaroc.net in English