Moroccan Conservative Leader Criticizes LGBTQ Themes at Marrakech Film Festival

"There are things that are inconceivable in a Muslim country, like what happened at the Marrakech Film Festival, where films exalting, in one way or another, homosexuality or sodomy were presented, in addition to the exaltation of a person who did not keep what he experienced to himself, his family or his doctor, but chose to divulge it publicly," criticized Abdelilah Benkirane in a speech given during the ordinary meeting of the PJD general secretariat, held on Saturday at the party’s central headquarters.

According to him, the fact of inviting a person who acknowledges his homosexuality, in this case Abdellah Taïa, and of considering it as something natural or positive, opens the door to the deviance of society. "We have not been content with the decline in marriage rates, the increase in divorces and the spread of sins in our country," he added, implicitly designating the promotion of homosexuality through cinema as one of the causes.

The Islamist leader also welcomed the Moroccans who left the room during the screening of another foreign film containing gay scenes. "These are the real Moroccans," he exclaimed, before criticizing those who attended these films, which encourage deviant behaviors and depart from the norm and the natural.

One of the films that is not well received is "Cabo Negro" by director Abdellah Taïa, screened out of official competition in the Ambassadors Hall of the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech. This film promotes "homosexuality" and "prostitution". During the presentation of his film, Abdellah Taïa stated that he dedicated his art to the expression of the community to which he belongs and to the defense of its orientations. He recounted that he had suffered during his childhood and youth from loneliness, rejection and lack of love, due to the absence of acceptance of his difference.

The film "The Sea in the Distance" falls into the same register. This film was screened as part of the official competition of the festival, alongside other foreign films that addressed the theme of homosexuality.

In Morocco, homosexuality is a criminal offense prohibited by Article 489 of the Penal Code. This article stipulates: "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."