Moroccan Islamist Leader Opposes Gender Equality in Family Code Reform

"In marital and sexual relations between men and women, equality is not possible," Benkirane said in a communication to the women of the Islamist party, denouncing the fight of feminist associations that are putting pressure on the Advisory Committee responsible for conducting the reform of the Family Code so that their demands related to gender equality are taken into account.

Feminists are calling for "a comprehensive reform of the Family Code in order to transform it into a civil law based on gender equality in all its parts". The Free Feminist Union is demanding "to include equality between men and women in matters of inheritance and to lift the ban on marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslims". "Equality and non-discrimination must be guaranteed, in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Morocco is a party," said Khadija Tahiri, a member of the Free Feminist Union, during a meeting with the Committee.

For his part, Benkirane believes that "society is not Simone de Beauvoir (one of the symbols of women’s emancipation), Latifa Jbabdi (Moroccan human rights activist and leader of the Socialist Union) and Amina Bouayach (President of the Advisory Council on Human Rights)... There are people who demand things like the cancellation of the wilaya (guardianship) so that a woman can marry without a guardian".

The PJD Secretary General also addressed the issue of the division of assets acquired during marriage, arguing that the establishment of this principle would make men reluctant to get married. "These people (who are demanding reforms) are really ignorant," Benkirane said, recalling that King Mohammed VI had assured that "he will not authorize what is forbidden (haram), nor forbid what is permitted (halal)". Yet, progressive organizations continue to demand a "radical" revision of the Family Code, he regrets. Feminists also advocate the abolition of guardianship "in the Code and in all other laws" relating to divorce, marriage and the division of assets. Benkirane, on the other hand, continues to oppose the ban on child marriage.