Moroccan Feminists and Other Activists Face Death Threats as Family Code Reform Looms

Reforms to the Moroccan Family Code await King Mohamed VI’s approval in the Moroccan Royal Palace

An Instagram post threatened a large number of Moroccan activists fighting for a change in the country’s family code with death, rape, and other acts of violence on March 28. The threats, reported by one of the activists, Mariyem Gamar, were made by Instagram account ‘hydra21’ and targeted 22 activists working for feminist and LGBTQ+ causes. The account added these 22 activists to a death list.

This all occurs as Morocco debates a reform to its outdated family code that contains unequal provisions for divorce, custody, and financial support for children from divorced parents. This is a politically charged topic in Morocco, drawing considerable opposition from the Islamist Party of Justice and Development (PJD), which argues that reforms would undermine its traditional gender values.

Feminists contest that the reforms are vital. They look particularly to changes that would end child marriage (currently in Morocco 14% of girls are married before age 18), create equal inheritance rules, and uphold monogamy.

Neither the feminist advocates nor the PJD will have the deciding say in what reforms look like. The King, Mohammed VI, appointed a group of bureaucrats in 2022 to draft reform that he will ultimately choose whether to approve. The first proposed reform draft was submitted to the palace in March, but there has been no public statement from the King or his advisors. 

In the meantime, growing tensions between feminists and conservatives threaten the lives and wellbeing of advocates in Morocco, who, though accustomed to threats, insults, and other harassment, find the Instagram post from March 28 particularly concerning. On social media, Gamar and others deem the threat terrorism. The identity of the owner or owners of the ‘hydra21’ account is still unknown.

Activist organizations including Queers of North Africa have released safety tips to their followers on Instagram in an effort to address safety concerns. They suggest that those who receive threats make a report to the authorities. They also encourage the wider community to support individuals and groups that are subject to threats by spreading their content and message.