COUNTRY REPORT SEPTEMBER 2019 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION (COI) Morocco Situation of LGBT persons version 2.0 © 2019 The Danish Immigration Service The Danish Immigration Service Ryesgade 53 2100 Copenhagen Denmark Phone: +45 35 36 66 00 newtodenmark.dk September 2019 All rights reserved to the Danish Immigration Service. The publication can be downloaded for free at newtodenmark.dk The Danish Immigration Service’s publications can be quoted with clear source reference. Front page photo: https://www.yabiladi.com/articles/details/63789/vers‐vague‐ migrants‐lgbt‐marocains.html MOROCCO - SITUATION OF LGBT PERSONS 2.0 List of Content Disclaimer ...........................................................................................................................................3 Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive summary ............................................................................................................................. 5 Methodology ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Background: changes over time in norms and values ....................................................................... 8 2. Situation of LGBT persons in Morocco ............................................................................................. 9 2.1 The legislative framework relating to sexuality ....................................................................................... 9 2.2 Exposure to violence by subgroups of LGBT persons ............................................................................ 10 2.3 LGBT communities and safe spaces ....................................................................................................... 12 2.4 State protection availability ................................................................................................................... 14 2.5 Trials involving homosexuality ............................................................................................................... 16 2.6 Conditions in prisons for incarcerated LGBT persons ............................................................................ 19 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................... 20 Legislation .................................................................................................................................................... 22 Appendix A: Notes, 2016 (English version) ........................................................................................ 23 1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation ........................................................................................... 23 2. National Council of Human Rights (Conseil national des droits de l’Homme - CNDH) ............................ 24 3. Moroccan Association of Human Rights (Association Marocaine de Droits Humains - AMDH) ............. 26 4. The Aswat group (Le Collectif Aswat) ...................................................................................................... 29 5. Abdelaziz Nouaydi, lawyer ....................................................................................................................... 33 6. Abdessamad Dialmy, Professor ............................................................................................................... 36 Notes: 2019 (English version) ............................................................................................................ 40 7. Social worker ....................................................................................................................................... 40 8. Abdelaziz Nouaydi, lawyer................................................................................................................... 42 9. Legal expert ......................................................................................................................................... 44 10. Civil society organisation ................................................................................................................. 48 11. Federation of the Leagues of Women’s Rights (FLDF) .................................................................... 50 12. Dynamique Trans* ........................................................................................................................... 54 1 MOROCCO - SITUATION OF LGBT PERSONS 2.0 Appendix B: notes, 2016 (French version) ......................................................................................... 60 1. Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et de la Coopération ......................................................................... 60 2. Conseil national de droits de l’Homme (CNDH) ...................................................................................... 61 3. Association Marocaine de Droits Humains (AMDH) ................................................................................ 63 4. Le Collectif Aswat ..................................................................................................................................... 66 5. Abdelaziz Nouaydi, avocat ....................................................................................................................... 70 Notes: 2019 (French version) ............................................................................................................. 73 6. Intervenante sociale ............................................................................................................................ 73 7. Abdelaziz Nouaydi, avocat ................................................................................................................... 75 8. Expert en matière de droits ................................................................................................................. 77 9. Organisation de la société civile .......................................................................................................... 81 10. FLDF ................................................................................................................................................. 83 11. Dynamique Trans* ........................................................................................................................... 87 Appendix C: Sources consulted ......................................................................................................... 93 Appendix E: Terms of reference ........................................................................................................ 94 Appendix C: Sources consulted ......................................................................................................... 43 Appendix D: Bibliography .................................................................................................................. 44 Appendix E: Terms of reference ....................................................................................................... 46 2 MOROCCO - SITUATION OF LGBT PERSONS 2.0 Disclaimer This report is written in alignment with the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) Country of Origin Information report methodology.1 The report is based on carefully selected sources and on approved interview notes. Statements from all interviewed sources are used in the report, and all statements in the report are referenced. This report is not, and does not purport to be, a detailed or comprehensive survey of all aspects of the issues addressed in the report. It should be weighed against other available country of origin information (COI) about the situation of LGBT persons in Morocco with regard to the legislative framework, the possibility for obtaining protection by the authorities, exposure to violence in the public and private sphere and conditions in prison. The report does not include policy recommendations or analysis. The information in the report does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Danish Immigration Service (DIS). Furthermore, this report is not conclusive as to the determination or merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Terminology used should not be regarded as indicative of a particular legal position. 1 EASO, EASO Country of Origin Information Report Methodology, June 2019, url 3 MOROCCO - SITUATION OF LGBT PERSONS 2.0 Abbreviations AMDH – Association Marocaine de Droits Humains CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women CNDH – Conseil national des droits de l’Homme / National Human Rights Council COI – Country of Origin Information CSO – Civil society organisation DIS – Danish Immigration Service EASO – European Asylum Support Office FLDF – Fédération des Ligues des Droits des Femmes LGBT – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender LGBTIQ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer NGO – Non-governmental organisation SOGIE / OSIEG – Sexual orientation, identity and gender expression / Orientation sexuelle, identité et expression de genre UFL – Union Féministe Libre USAID – United States Agency for International Development 4 MOROCCO - SITUATION OF LGBT PERSONS 2.0 Executive summary Morocco’s Penal Code remains categorical in its criminalisation of homosexual acts: According to article 489 homosexual acts are a criminal offence punishable