A pride flag has disturbed a protest in Casablanca on Sunday, as the symbol diverted attention from the activists event centered around penal and family code reforms, and calls for legislative gender equality.
Organized by the newly created Hiya Movement, the protest aimed to raise awareness on ongoing institutionalized gender disparity, and to call for legislative reform the reflect Morocco’s gender equity goals.
One of the participants raised an LGBTQ flag in the midst of the sit-in, to represent the group’s call for equal rights, and in defense of personal freedoms.
Passerby and members of the participating activists were disturbed by the gesture, and initiated discussions around wether the action was misplaced.
Organizers eventually requested the participant to remove the rainbow flag, to ensure the smooth-sailing of the sit-in.
“We don’t get to pick and chose freedoms,” said the LGBTQ activist, defending their choice to shed lights on the minority’s rights and demands for freedom.
“This is an Islamic country, not the country of the rainbow,” yelled young men in reaction to the branded flag.
Later on, participants collectively attempted to apprehend all conflict during the protest, and diffused tensions between the public and the activist. Soon after, the LGBTQ participant left the protest, accompanied by organizers, to avoid any physical altercations with the public.
Organizers refused to comment on the flag, stressing that they broadly “defend individual freedoms, gender equality in the criminal law and family code and legislative reforms.”
Despite an important crowd waiving popular slogans demanding change for further gender equality, reactions to the sit-in on social media centered around the rainbow flag and wether it was appropriate.
Participants continued defending their initial stances on gender parity and women’s rights, with a diversified crowd and homogenous slogans, condemning minor girl marriages, inheritance inequalities, rape culture, sexual violence and advocating for equality in the Kingdom’s legislation.
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