Controversial TV Scene Sparks Debate on Gender Roles in Moroccan Society

On the web, many Internet users have described this scene as "humiliating for the image of the Moroccan man". In the same scene, we see Sahar Seddiki criticizing the way her husband treated a member of his family and complaining about his personality, which she considers weak, before slapping him in the face. This scene encourages the "destruction of family values and undermines the position of the man within the Moroccan family and society," they argue, at a time when the debate is raging between men and women around the proposed amendments to the Family Code. Each side accuses the other of being responsible for the increase in divorce rates and the lack of interest in marriage.

Faced with the criticism, actress Sahar Seddiki provides clarification. The series "Jarah Qadim" addresses several bold topics in society, including violence against men, which is a real social phenomenon, she said in a statement to Al3omk. According to her explanations, the series highlights characters who have suffered psychological traumas during their childhood, which has influenced their personality. There are people who "accommodate violence and even take pleasure in being victims of it," the actress stressed.

Seddiki stressed that since her entry into the world of cinema, she has been careful to avoid stereotypical roles by diversifying her characters and their interpretation, and she succeeds in doing so, as each of her roles is different from the previous one. The public does not get tired of an actor who works on himself, develops his skills and does not repeat himself, she believes. As for the proposals to amend the Family Code, she stated that they have generated a positive debate and aim to restore the consideration due to the Moroccan woman in society and to do her justice, because, according to her, she suffers and contributes more to society than the man.

In addition to "Jarah Qadim", Seddiki is also expected to appear in another series titled "Kaftan Khadija" during Ramadan. She plays the role of "Kaftan Khadija", a young woman working in the field of sewing, named Sonia, who faces many social problems caused by her ex-husband, who continues to disrupt her life and prevent her from living normally.