Study Reveals Growing Atheism Among Young Urban Moroccans, Challenging Social Norms

"In Morocco, three subjects are taboo: God, the king and the Sahara. Consequently, most young Moroccans do not openly proclaim their atheism or agnosticism. This leads to too many social consequences," says anthropologist Lena Richter of Radboud University in the Netherlands, who conducted research on the central role of religion in Moroccan society. A total of 50 educated atheist and agnostic young people (aged 18 to 35) from the urban middle class in Morocco and Europe were interviewed as part of the study.

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The interviews show that non-religious opinions are expressed mainly indirectly through subtle actions that do not align with the model of good Muslim behavior, thus defying established norms. For example, "a person may choose to get a tattoo, drink wine occasionally, frequent bars, not fast during Ramadan or joke about Islam on social media," explains Richter. She will add: "It also involves abandoning certain religious practices, such as no longer praying or attending the mosque."

Despite the lack of appreciation for non-religious opinions, these minor violations of the rules, there is a certain form of social and family tolerance towards these practices. "Non-religious opinions are not appreciated, but as long as the person does not make a big deal out of it, the members of his network will not either," the researcher further explains. According to her, it can to some extent be easier to be non-believer in Morocco than in Europe. In Morocco, a non-believer operates from a minority position. But in Europe - where Moroccans are already a minority and Muslims are victims of discrimination - non-believing Arabs are frequently manipulated for electoral purposes by right-wing parties to criticize and distort Islam, the study points out.

Debates around atheism are increasingly present on social media, especially among Moroccan youth. "On social media, we see discussions about faith emerging among young Moroccans," notes the academic. She also specified that non-religious Moroccans present various nuances, influenced by their family background and their own path. While some maintain a link with Islam, notably through the celebration of Ramadan with the family, others adopt more radical positions towards religion.