Behind the Mask

BEHIND THE MASK a website on gay and lesbian affairs in Africa

morocco

about morocco
official name: Kingdom of Morocco
capital: Rabat
head of state: King Mohamed VI
head of government: Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi
state: constitutional monarcy
population: 30,6 million
independence: from France in 1956
languages: Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French
religion: Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)
media: NA
legal wise
status of homosexuality: illegal
age of consent: 15
laws covering homosexual activity: Homosexuality is criminalized under Section 489 of the Penal Code [of 26 November 1962] which provides a penalty of between 6 months and 3 years' imprisonment and additional fines from 120 to 1000 Dirhams for "lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex".
background information and government attitudes: Morocco has long been known for its liberal attitudes and was a holiday haven for European gays in the early 20th Century. However as a principally Muslim country and with fundamentalism on the rise this is no longer the case. In January 1997 the Washingon Blade reported that a 28-year-old Moroccan man was granted asylum by the United States, having fled violent beatings at the hands of his own father and the threat of imprisonment by the Moroccan government because he was gay.
communication
mainline telephones: 1,4 million
cellular telephones: 117, 000
internet country code: .ma
internet service providers: 8 (2000)
internet users: 120, 000 (2000)
links and contacts

Kelma: Paris based, French language site on/for Arab gays from Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria. http://www.kelma.org
Gay Morocco: English language site with news wire and discussions on homosexuality. http://gaymorocco.tripod.com

ty-ing it all together: remembering saadia
October 26, 2005: I first met Saadia a few months after I arrived in Morocco. One of the maids in my in-laws' house had left suddenly and they had gone to their farm outside of Casablanca to ask the caretakers there if anyone knew of a reliable girl who could fill in for a while. Someone knew someone who knew someone who had a strong, hard-working daughter who wasn't getting married anytime soon. More...

des homosexuels sont actuellement les victimes de l'arbitraire policier au maroc
July, 2005: A Tetouan, au nord du Maroc, 43 personnes qui s'étaient réunies pour fêter un simple anniversaire, ont été dénoncées téléphoniquement par un anonyme. Plus...

large campagne homophobe au maroc
Juin 2005: au maroc une large campagne homophobe sans précédent a été orchestrée par une certaine presse. More...

le maire de marrakech contre les homos
Juin 2005: Je ne veut pas que la ville devienne unrendez-vous de la debouche. Plus...

amsterdam: the moroccan quandary
November 1, 2004: Amsterdam is known as a liberal city, where just about anything is allowed, but it is also a multicultural city where permissive Dutch law does not always sit well with conservative immigrants. Dutch liberals and gay immigrants alike face a multi-layered issue. More…

moroccans jail briton for gay sex
October 4, 2004: A British man has been jailed for having sex with two men in Morocco - where homosexuality is illegal. More...

prison for gay outing editor
June 3, 2004: Anas Tadili, editor of the weekly 'Akhbar al-Ousbouaâ', has been sentenced to six months in prison for "defamation". The editor in April had published an article detailing alleged homosexual sex of a Moroccan Minister at a holiday resort in Morocco. More…

etre homo au maroc
June, 2003: Quoi qu'on pense d'eux, ils existent. Et ils se cachent. Alors autant entendre ce qu'ils ont à dire. Plus...

myths and realities
Updated 2003, original August 1997: Morocco is an ancient civilization steeped in history and hormones, a gold mine for the archeologist and psychologist. If you go looking for the gay 'scene' in Morocco, you won't find it, and if you're not looking, guy-sex situations will likely unfold. Paradoxical and elusive, male sexuality in Morocco is veiled, ambiguous in meaning, easily bisexual and not used for one's identity. More...

etre lesbienne aujourd'hui au maroc
2003: K. est Marocaine, lesbienne et vit au Maroc. Elle nous a ouvert son coeur, sa vie et ses pensées. Dans ce témoignage elle nous raconte ce que c'est que d'être lesbienne aujourd'hui au Maroc à l'aube du troisième millénaire. Etaler ma vie en lignes n'est pas facile. Plus...

militantisme homosexuel au maghreb
2003: Au début des années 90, une ONG marocaine désirant faire de la prévention sida auprès des homosexuels s'était heurtée au problème de l'inexistence d'un milieu gay et s'est contentée de travailler dans celui de la prostitution qui était déjà mieux organisé et plus visible. Plus...

gay moroccan must leave norway
August 2000: A 25 year old Moroccan has shown in his application that homosexuality is punished in Morocco and that he should be allowed to stay in Norway for that reason. But his application was rejected by foreign service officials. More..