Human Rights Watch Urges Morocco to Address LGBTQ Rights Crisis

In a publication titled "Where is the justice?" for Moroccan transgender women?, Human Rights Watch denounces Morocco’s "homophobic" laws and "the precarious life of LGBTQ people in Morocco", reports Morocco World News. Drawing inspiration from the AfroQueer podcast titled "A Night in Marrakech", HRW notes the Moroccan government’s inability to protect queer and trans people from harassment and discrimination.

The organization recounts the story of Manal, a Moroccan trans woman. She had requested asylum in Europe after an arrest in 2019 in Marrakech. Her arrest followed a car accident. "When the police arrived, they arrested Manal, harassed her because of her sexual orientation, then revealed her identity by posting photos of her and a copy of her ID card online, in violation of Moroccan privacy laws," HRW details. Subsequently, she was not only a victim of harassment, but also had to face rejection from her family members.

"There are a lot of gay people in Morocco, but they have to hide. They can’t openly say ’I’m gay’ - they have to hide who they are," Manal says. In Morocco, homosexuality is severely punished by law, particularly the penal code in its article 489. Offenders are liable to imprisonment from six months to several years and a fine of 120 dirhams (12 dollars) to 1,200 (120 dollars).