Marrakech Film Festival: Viewers Walk Out Over Gay Scene in Movie

On the web, a video from the Marrakech International Film Festival is causing controversy and arousing the anger of the population. In this video, we see several spectators leaving a cinema during the screening of a film after the representation of a homosexual relationship in one of the scenes. The scene shows two men lying next to each other, kissing in a moment of intimacy. Enough to provoke the repulsion of certain spectators, who left the cinema.

Many Moroccans have taken to social media to express their disapproval of the scene. On Facebook and Instagram, the criticisms are pouring in. "Such an indecent scene? They should have ransacked the whole theater for that," comments a Moroccan internet user. "It’s reassuring to see that there are still people defending their principles," writes another, thus referring to the spectators who chose to leave the cinema.

In Morocco, homosexuality is a criminal offense prohibited by Article 489 of the Penal Code. This article states: "Anyone who commits an indecent or unnatural act with an individual of the same sex is punished with imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of 120 to 1000 dirhams, unless the act constitutes a more serious offense."

For now, the organizers of the Marrakech International Film Festival have not made any comment.