Moroccan Government Warns It "Will Not Tolerate" Homosexuality

Disturbing news from Morocco. The government vows to crackdown on a burgeoning gay rights movement and warns homosexuality "will not be tolerated."

The Associated Press reported this statement from the Interior Ministry: "Certain media are taking a stand for certain ignominious behaviors, which is a provocation for the national public opinion. Any act contrary to moral or religious values will be repressed." An anonymous ministry official said this was a reference to newspapers that advocated greater "tolerance for homosexuality."

Despite the warning, Behind the Mask reports the Spanish-based Moroccan gay rights group "Kifkif" planned a conference in Marrakesh on April 15. (No word yet did it happen.) Gay activist Samir Barkachi says his groups wants to repeal Paragraph 489 of the Moroccan Penal Code which forbids gay sex: "It’s a dangerous law that was put in place by France. We’re demanding that it be revised. The law has no right to interfere with what people get up to in bed."

Samir Barkach's blog reports the Kifkif website has been hacked: "The homepage has been replaced by verses from the Koran, accompanied with a photo of a mass hanging. The message in Arabic: 'Do this kind of thing and expect to be castigated by god.' "

Morocco is home to a large expatriate European community and has long been a sex tourism destination for gay men. Despite some some press freedoms, homosexuality remains taboo in the Islamic kingdom.

Comments

[Derrick from Philly]

Sometimes I believe that the Internet is going to be the end of all this ancient religious bull-dookey used to persecute gay people in this world. You know, the hope is that the more educated folks become the less they can hold on to the bull-dookey That's my hope anyway.

Well, I thought that when I finally hit the Powerball (which should be soon), I'd head over to Morocco to get me a North African cutie, but I guess not. Wonder if they have any North African cuties over in New Jersey? And not no fundamentalist nut-case, please.

[Luther]

Are they serious? Homosexuality or in most cases bisexuality has been 'tolerated' in Morrocco for the last 50 years, and, is one of the main way many young men make money and it has not been a secret to anyone who lives or has travelled there.

[Maroqui]

Oh this is just because of he upcoming elections.

To prevent the islamist PJD from winning the elections (they lost the last one), the makhzen (state) always comes up with good sunni-muslim measures. This year it was the shi'a, gays and the deportation of christian missionaries.

They wont go too far as they realize that they cant bite the hand that feeds them.

During the summer everything will be back to normal. Moroccans from europe, middle east and canada returning in droves for several weeks of booze-fuelled, sex-driven family holidays :)

[Jim]

Derrick said: "Well, I thought that when I finally hit the Powerball (which should be soon), I'd head over to Morocco to get me a North African cutie, but I guess not."

You still can, Derrick. The more oppressive a country's regime, the more one of its young men will be longing to jump into the arms of a foreign Powerball winner.

Luther said: "Homosexuality or in most cases bisexuality has been 'tolerated' in Morrocco for the last 50 years..."

How about the last 2,500 years? 5,000 years? 50,000?

Thanks for your perspective, Maroqui. Sometimes, unfortunately, something easily dismissed as a harmless political ploy can take on a life of its own and become a lot more serious. I hope that never happens to you.

[redounae]

@derrick
there some in NYC lol

[libhomo]

A lot of people forget that Islam was a religion imposed on Morocco by a foreign invading army. It has no indigenous roots in that country.