Survey: Majority of Moroccans Support Sharia-Based Family Code Reform

Nearly 8 out of 10 Moroccans (78%) say that any reform of the Family Code (Moudawana) aimed at promoting gender equality should be based on Islamic law, according to a survey conducted by the pan-African research network Afrobarometer on a sample of 1,200 adults, between August 31 and September 19, 2022. They represent only 20% of these Moroccans who wish the reforms to be based solely on the international agreements signed by Morocco. 80% of men are in favor of resorting to Islamic law, 74% for women, 82% for rural residents, 81% for the least wealthy citizens, 74% for urban residents (74%) and 76% for the wealthiest.

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The Afrobarometer report also specifies that support for basing Family Code reforms on Islamic law increases with the age of the respondents (from 73% among 18-35 year olds to 85% among those over 55) and decreases with the level of education (88% among those without formal education versus 65% among those who have done post-secondary studies). Respondents attach importance to several topics: 32% for divorce, reconciliation and alimony procedures, 25% for extramarital sex, and 22% for early marriages.