Moroccan Parents Sue Kenitra-Based French School Over LGBT+ Lessons

Rabat – Parents from the Moroccan city of Kenitra, 36 kilometers north of Rabat, have sued a French mission school for teaching students LGBTQ+-related topics. Converging reports indicated that Moroccan authorities are investigating the case, which dates back to December 2022.

In a statement reported by local media, Moroccan attorney Abderrahim Jamai said that parents were shocked to learn that a teacher from the school “presented information on homosexuality and abnormal trends and spread insulting ideas on Islamic personalities and symbols that affect [children’s] religious beliefs.”

The attorney added that said teacher encouraged students to “accept the notions of homosexuality and spread views promoting same-sex relationships,” which the parents considered to be a breach of Moroccan religious and cultural values.

Upon learning about the LGBTQ+ lessons that their children had been receiving at school, parents were outraged and considered such teachings a “serious aggression against children, affecting their cultural identity, societal environment, and psychological stability.”

Jamai noted that the children in question are below the age of 10, stressing that the teacher’s actions are an “odious exploitation of their childhood.” He further described the teacher’s actions as a “crime against them [students] and a pedagogical deviation of the teacher towards children who need appropriate guidance.”

The parents initially reported the incident to the school’s administration, voicing their concerns over the newly-introduced lessons. However, they “lost their patience” after the school “remained silent and indifferent” about the incident, prompting the parents to take legal action, added the statement.

“The prosecutor’s office took over the case and opened the preliminary proceedings, which reassured the parents and families who, despite this, live with great anxiety due to teacher and school administration’s behavior,” indicated the lawyer.

Pending further investigation into the case, the parents are concerned about the impact that these lessons could have on the “psychological and academic future of their children,” he concluded.

Many Moroccan social media users echoed the parent’s concerns and criticized the school for teaching students about homosexuality, which is considered a taboo topic in the North African country.

Others, however, encouraged teaching children about homosexuality and the LGBTQ+ community, as long as schools do not force the lifestyle on students. “I’m sorry but your child is going to learn [about] it one way or another. It’s if the idea is forced as a way of living that this becomes wrong,” said a Moroccan netizen.

Meanwhile, some blamed the parents for enrolling their children in French mission schools, saying that they should “assume the consequences” of their actions. “Unbelievable! They send their children to the mission and expect a Moroccan-style education … strange claim,” said another social media user.

Morocco is a Muslim and conservative country where homosexuality is strictly forbidden. Article 489 of the country’s penal code punishes same-sex relations by imprisonment from six months to three years and a fine of up to $1,200 (MAD 12,200).

Over the years, however, Moroccan activists and human rights organizations have consistently advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, making several pleas with authorities to decriminalize same-sex relations and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.