'We don’t get to pick and rank freedoms': Pride flag raised in Casablanca, divides Moroccan activists

For the first time, a rainbow flag - associated with Queer rights - was raised in Morocco during a women's rights protest, causing a disturbance among protesters and triggering a heated conversation about homophobia and selective feminism in the North African kingdom.

On Sunday, dozens of women's rights activists gathered at the Nation Union Square in Casablanca to protest the ongoing institutionalised gender disparity in family and penal codes.

Under the organisation of Hiya, a newly established Moroccan women's rights movement, the protest was held to call for legislative reforms of penal and family codes that still tolerate minor marriage and provide way more privileges for men in cases of divorce and heritage.

Malak, a Moroccan transwoman, was among the participants. She was standing front line, sporting a white t-shirt reading, "Abolish poverty, not sex work" and chanted along with the protesters, "Minor mothers are Moroccan citizens."

Amid the protest, Malak raised the rainbow flag, a key part of her identity, to shed light on the marginalised community.

Organisers and fellow protesters rushed to talk out Malak of raising the colourful flag. But the LGBTQ+ activist stood her ground. "We don't get to pick and rank freedoms," Malak told one organiser.

Soon, passersby noticed the flag and started surrounding the protest, yelling homophobic slurs at Malak. 

After many attempts, the organisers managed to diffuse the tensions between the LGBTQ+ activist and the homophobic crowd and escorted her out of the protest to avoid any physical altercations with the public.

Malak, who is taking time off from media interactions after the overwhelming incident, said she is in a safe place now after over 72 hours of non-sleep and stress as she continues to receive death threats over social media.  

Organisers refused to comment on the incident, saying they are only responsible for their official chants and banners. "We defend individual freedoms, gender equality in the criminal law and family code and legislative reforms," stated the Hiya movement in a press release with no direct mention of the controversy regarding the rainbow flag.

Irresponsible or courageous?

The incident has divided feminist activists in Morocco, triggering a tense discourse regarding intersectional feminism, safety and ethics of protests.

For some, the LGBTQ+ activist's move was selfish and irresponsible as it caught organisers off guard, putting fellow activists in danger and stealing the spotlight from the main goal of the protest.

"Being LGBT does not make you a de facto ally. Being an ally already means honouring the trust of your loved ones and not putting them in danger," tweeted Lamya, a Moroccan activist who participated in the protest.

Meanwhile, several other activists came to the defence of Malak, praising her courage and shaming other women's rights activists for trying to silence her.

"It's sad, ugly, tragic. LGBTQ+ doesn't really exist for others (heterosexuals). We want to tolerate them, but no more. They must suffer the homophobia of power, suffer rape, insults, terrifying silence and also the rejection of certain activists," wrote Abdellah Taia, a Moroccan director and writer.

In Morocco, homosexuality is still a taboo and a crime. Article 489 of the Penal Code of Morocco criminalises "lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex."

The Moroccan LGBTQ+ community says Article 489 legitimises hate crimes and strengthens systemic oppression against the community and against the community.

Last November, a group of four men severely beat, harassed and dragged a Moroccan trans woman in the northern city of Tangier. 

The Moroccan police said, at the time, that an investigation has been opened for "incitement to hatred and discrimination."

However, the Moroccan state has so far no concrete laws that ensure the protection of the LGBTQI+ community from violence. 

A recent report by Nassawiyat, said most of the LGBTQI+ violence survivors who report aggression to the police, find themselves obligated to hide their gender identity and sexual orientation, which are, in most cases, the reasons behind the attacks.