Morocco’s Penal Code Reform Sparks Political Divide Over Sexual Relations Law

The reform of the penal code does not have the unanimous support of the political class due to its amendments, in particular the decriminalization of consensual sexual relations between adults.

While Saâdeddine El Othmani, the head of government, has prohibited the Minister of Justice, Mohamed Benabdelkader (USFP), from making amendments to the code and the Islamist party is adopting the same stance, the PJD opposes the decriminalization of consensual sexual relations between adults, and some political parties approve the reform. These are the USFP, the PPS, the PAM, the FGD, the RNI, the MP and a minority of the PI.

Since 2016, the draft amendment to the penal code has been struggling to come to fruition. The political class still cannot agree.