New ‘Halal’ Dating App in Morocco Sparks Controversy

Doha – Moroccan digital activist Ilyass Lakhrissi, known online as “Sheikh Sar”, recently announced the launch of a new mobile application called “MaaQool” (a Moroccan word that roughly translates to “prudent” or “judicious”).

The app aims to create a space for dating and matchmaking between Moroccan men and women who want to start a family. However, the app has sparked a wave of criticism and controversy.

According to a video that Lakhrissi posted on YouTube, the new app will require a paid subscription. Men will need to pay 300 dirhams for 100 days, while women will pay 100 dirhams for the same period.

Lakhrissi plans to generate revenue from this process, while also giving himself “the ability to view private conversations between app users” in order to “avoid seclusion between the two parties,” according to his statement.

Users are required to provide personal information, including a phone number, full name, and personal photo, as well as sensitive data related to skin color and marital status. This data will be compiled into a calendar of private information and data included in the app.

The announcement of the app has been met with a flurry of criticism and mockery from social media users. One Facebook user commented; “marriage requires a mature woman with good morals, responsibility and a sound mind trained in patience and endurance, not a teenage girl whose only concern is showing off a ring and dress to her friends. Marriage also requires a man who knows the meaning of marriage and responsibility.”

Another said, “may God grant you success, brother Ilyass, but do not do anything until you know God’s ruling on it. Consult with scholars and seek their advice.”

A third added, “this project has more harm than good, and its corruption is greater than its righteousness, so you must reconsider it and consult with scholars before starting it.”

However, some expressed their support for the app, noting that the controversy surrounding its release reflects the demand for it, which is evidence of its success.

Concerns have been raised about the app’s potential to become a “space for illegal exchange of sensitive and personal user data, in the absence of official guarantees and Moroccan laws tightening restrictions on tampering with this data by anyone.” This comes in the wake of the recent leak of photos of Moroccan girls from Snapchat.

Swiping right on tradition or left on progress?

Modeled after the Tinder app founded in 2012, which was the first dating app of its kind designed specifically for smartphones, the world of technology has opened a new door for online dating in Morocco. However, the app has been criticized for potentially exploiting religion for profit.

The app requires those wishing to use its services to fill out a form with questions about age, income, physical characteristics, housing, and health status. It perpetuates the idea of marriage in a traditional, old-fashioned way inherited by some under the pretext that it is a legitimate method, which has not pleased opponents of this form of marriage.

Lakhrissi has not been spared criticism from a wide range of Moroccans, who consider that he is exploiting religion to promote his project and convince young people to join it.

The app has also been criticized by Islamic scholars and experts. Mohamed Abdelouahab Rafiqui, a researcher in Islamic thought and advisor to the Minister of Justice, said; “they (referring to Lakhrissi) fiercely defend the marriage of young girls and minors, strongly advocate polygamy, and prohibit women from holding jobs and responsibilities…”

Rafiqui added: “But they allow some of them projects of ‘electronic procuring’ according to the Sunnah of God and His Messenger, and allow both sexes to have private conversations and exchange photos under the supervision and participation of the ‘application owner’…”

Rafiqui concluded his critical post of Lakhrissi by saying: “a model for those who oppose amending the Family Code and oppose lifting injustice against women”, before asking him an innocent question as he put it: “Would you accept it for your sister?”

For his part, Moroccan preacher Redouan Ben Abdessalam, also known as Redouan Zarghil, expressed his views on the app in a Facebook post. While acknowledging Lakhrissi’s role as a “thorn in the throats of the wicked, secularists, atheists, and obscene feminist movements” and his “great talent and enormous effort” in charitable work, Zarghil stated that he completely disagrees with and rejects the “MaaQool” app.

He also denounced the attacks against Lakhrissi by those who “ate their livers with malice” and used the controversy as an opportunity to undermine him. Zarghil prayed for God to guide Lakhrissi to goodness, protect him from anything that violates Sharia, and keep him from all evil.

The launch of the “MaaQool” dating app by Moroccan blogger Ilyass Lakhrissi has ignited a fierce debate in Morocco. While the app claims to provide a “halal” matchmaking service, many see it as an exploitation of religion for financial gain and promotion of outdated marital traditions. The paid subscription model and collection of sensitive personal data have raised privacy concerns.