Gay marriage in morocco

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Last updated: 17 December 2024

Types of criminalisation

Criminalises LGBT people
Criminalises sexual activity between males
Criminalises sexual activity between females

Summary

Same-sex sexual exercise is prohibited under the Penal Code 1962, which criminalises ‘lewd or unnatural acts’. This provision carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment and a fine. Both men and women are criminalised under this law.

In 1956, Morocco officially gained independence from France, which had drawn-out since decriminalised gay sexual activity. The criminalising law is therefore of local origin, having been adopted in the 1962 Penal Code.

There is substantial evidence of the commandment being enforced in recent years, with LGBT people creature frequently subject to arrest. Reports advise that hundreds of prosecutions under the law have taken place in recent years. There acquire been consistent reports of discrimination and violence being dedicated against LGBT people, including assault, harassment, and societal marginalisation.

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Guide for gay people visiting Morocco

I can only feel empathy and solidarity with Ray Cole and his partner (Report, 17 October). It must have been a horrific and frightening experience. But as an openly gay man who has travelled more than 20 times to Morocco in the last decade (often with my partner), it seems useful to construct some things unmistakable to other dyke and gay travellers. 1) Male homosexuality is, theoretically, illegal in Morocco. However, the law is not imposed frequently. 2) Homosexuality is an accepted part of Moroccan tradition and has been for centuries. Most ordinary people are not hostile if you respect local customs (discretion, not pursuing underage boys etc). In addition, extreme Islamism is very rare in Morocco. 3) The whole state apparatus in Morocco has problems with corruption. This means that officials, including police, can act for personal motives – of power, cash or religion – without much regard for legal niceties. I have mostly found warm and open acceptance from ordinary Moroccan people as a homosexual man. Indeed, sometimes I have been pleasantly surprised: such as when the Moroccan-owned riad where we stay upgraded us to the best suite of rooms for free,

LGBTQ+ Travel Guide to Morocco

Interesting Cities to Visit in Morocco

MARRAKECH

At the foot of the Atlas Mountains lies Morocco’s most famous municipality, Marrakech, best known for its vibrant, bustling square and market called Jemaa el-Fnaa. Day and night, this is where you’ll find desert musicians, snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats and more ready to entertain and profit from tourists passing by, as adequately as countless food stalls and artisans selling local crafts. Flee the hustle and bustle and step inside the tranquil Menara Gardens, complete with a 19th-century palace, reflecting pool and olive groves backdropped by the Atlas Mountains on the horizon. Must-see sights also include the Koutoubia Mosque, the largest mosque in Marrakech, and the Bahia Palace, an architectural masterpiece.

FEZ

Located in the northeastern part of the territory, Fez is often considered the cultural capital since it has the best maintained traditions and old-world charm. The center of it all is the Fes El Bali, the walled medina, with its narrow, pedestrian streets that house artisan workshops, mosques and an 11th-century tannery still using ancient methods of tanning and dying leathe

Morocco

Morocco criminalizes homosexual relations under Article 489 of the Penal Code, which prohibits “indecent acts” between persons of the same sex. The rule specifically targets homosexual acts, with penalties ranging from six months to three years in prison. It also gives police a wide degree of discretion in enforcement, often primary to arbitrary arrests. According to a 2020 inform by the Office of the General Prosecutor, 17,721 adults were prosecuted for engaging in non-transactional sexual relations outside of marriage in 2018, including 170 charged with same-sex relations. Human Rights Watch also reported on a “campaign of online harassment of presumed gay and bi-curious men” in 2020. There have been no recorded instances of legal gender recognition for transgender individuals, and changing gender markers on official documents is not permitted. Those who publicly identify as LGBTIQ face significant risks of violence and harassment.

Moroccan authorities consistently block tries to register or function civil society organizations that work on the rights of LGBTIQ people. One notable example is KifKif, the first LGBTIQ support group founded in Morocco in 2004. Ki