Russia’s Anti-LGBTQ Stance Draws Support from Moroccan Journalist Amid Ukraine War

"This is in no way a political, ideological or societal choice, but a civilizational destiny! Make your choice, mine has been made for a long time!" tweeted Rachid Achachi. He accompanied his post with photos of queer parades in New York against photos of a church in Russia and a mosque in Morocco to justify his support for "Russian civilization" against Ukraine, which is turned towards the West.

Russia adopted a law against homosexuality in 2013. While the fighting continues on the ground, the Ukrainian LGBT+ community expresses its fear and distress in the face of human rights violations it could face if Russian President Vladimir Putin controlled the country. According to the United States, there are many LGBT+ personalities on Russia’s "list of Ukrainian targets". In Ukraine, Ukrainian homosexuals can express their sexuality, organize parades and engage in the army.

Rachid Achachi’s statements have provoked the anger of the LGBTQAI+ community. "When a Moroccan journalist working for a well-known platform like ’Luxe Radio’ (a Moroccan private French-language radio) justifies violence against Ukraine and the West simply for having accepted people’s freedom to express their sexuality, he of course incites violence" against LGBT+ people in Morocco, reacted the Queers in North Africa movement to The New Arab.