With Morocco co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, there are questions about how tolerant the North African will be towards certain aspects of individual freedoms common in Western countries and the other two hosting nations, like homosexuality and public alcohol consumption.
Article 489 of Morocco’s Criminal Code criminalizes homosexual acts, stating that “any person who commits acts of homosexual lewdness with a person of the same sex shall be punished with imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of 200 to 1,000 MAD, unless his act constitutes a more serious crime.
Also, public consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited in Morocco, with people violating this law are expected to face imprisonment of one to six months and a fine between 150 and 500 MAD, or either of these penalties alone.
If the offender’s actions cause a disturbance that threatens public order, the penalty can be doubled.
Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has repeatedly hinted at a possible rollback of the public intoxication penalty in the new penal code, drawing criticism from some human rights organizations who warn of its impact on society.
It’s worth mentioning that Moroccan law is quite different from those of the other two countries. While same-sex marriage is legal in both Spain and Portugal, the situation regarding alcohol consumption is somewhat similar.
In Spain, Law 10/1990, issued on October 15, prohibits the sale of all types of alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or psychoactive substances in stadiums during sporting events to prevent violence among fans, according to the fact-checking platform Misbar.
In Portugal, the sale, consumption, and entry of alcoholic beverages have been banned in sports stadiums since 1980 as part of the first regulation on sports-related violence.
Despite some exceptions provided for in current legislation, such as allowing alcohol consumption in designated areas, only non-alcoholic beverages are permitted in sports stadiums.
However, Portugal, according to the same source, has “updated a law to allow the sale of alcohol in designated areas of stadiums.”
Saïd Maâch, a lawyer in Casablanca, Morocco, suggested, in a statement to Hespress Ar, that Morocco may ease some articles related to alcohol consumption in its criminal law amendments.
He also anticipated a more tolerant approach towards the individual freedoms of foreign fans in the context of the 2030 World Cup, in a way that respects the peculiarities of Moroccan society.
However, Abdelaziz Khalil, a legal researcher, argued that allowing public displays of homosexuality or public alcohol consumption is highly unlikely, especially since the former issue is not part of the current legal reform discussions.
He emphasized, in a statement to Hespress Ar, that respecting local sensibilities is always a priority in any criminal law globally, and countries with absolute liberation have advanced levels of freedom that cannot be compared to countries like Morocco.
For context, both Russia and Qatar faced intense scrutiny from Western human rights organizations and media outlets ahead of hosting the FIFA World Cup.
Russia dug in on its domestic laws, while Qatar initially issued a statement through FIFA about Doha’s “commitment to rainbow displays.”
However, Qatari authorities later contradicted this, refusing to allow the “One Love” rainbow armbands on players’ jerseys.
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