At the initiative of writers Leila Slimani and Sonia Terrab, more than 490 Moroccan women and men signed a manifesto to denounce the “liberticidal laws” of the Criminal Code and launch a “national debate on individual freedoms”, three weeks after the arrest of journalist Hajar Raissouni for “abortion” and “sexual relations outside wedlock”.

We are violating unfair and obsolete laws, We are having sex outside wedlock. We are suffering, enabling or being complicit of abortion, We learned to deal with it and pretend. But for how long?

Every day, every hour. while hiding‚ behind closed doors, women like me. men like you, conservatives and progressives, public personalities and anonymous citizens. from all backgrounds and all regions. We dare and take upon ourselves, enjoy and exist for ourselves, break our chains and ignore the laws. Because of love.

Every day. I feel guilty for loving and being loved. Every time a woman is arrested. I am an accomplice. I tell myself: ‘It could have been me.”

Then I stay silent. I try to forget and move on.

But I cannot do it anymore. I cannot stand anymore. Because mv body belongs to me. It does not belong to my father, my husband, my entourage, nor the eyes of the men in the streets, and even less so, the State, Today. l want to end the circle of shame.

I, who loves. aborts, has sex without being married I. who hides. [‚ who risks disgrace, infamy and prison.

This culture of lies and social hypocrisy generates violence, arbitrariness and intolerance. These laws, hostile to freedom and inapplicable, have become tools of political and personal revenge.

It is a sword o! Damocles hanging over our heads reminding us all: “Your life does not belong to you”. How can we accept this’? Why should we? Over and over again…

In 2018, in Morocco, 14,503 people were persecuted. under the Article 490 of the PenaI Code, which punishes sexual intercourse outside of wedlock.

3048 people were imprisoned for adultery Every day In my country, between 600 and 800 unsafe abortions are carried out

Should we cage all these people in prison? Their “accomplices” (doctors, activists) too?

We believe that Moroccan society is ready for change, for the respect of privacy and the right to be in charge of our own body. Our society and our country deserve that. We call on our leaders, our decision-makers and our legislators to show courage, to take this step forward, by engaging in a national debate on individual freedoms.

It is not a luxury, it is not a favour; it is a necessity,

How can we promote the fulfilment of our youth, how can we illuminate the right involvernent of women in our society. How can we truly engage our country towards progress in human development if our individual freedoms are not respected, if our dignity is knocked down. if we all remain nothing but outlaws’?

ALL OUTLAWS‚ UNTIL THE LAW CHANGES.

►I commit

First signatories – Outlaw women 

Leïla Slimani – Sonia Terrab – Nabila Mounib – Sanaa El Aji – Karima Nadir – Fatna El Bouih – Meryem Benm’barek – Samia Akariou – Soumaya Naamane Guessous – Zainab Fasiki – Hakima Lebbar – Amal Atrache – Aicha Akalay – Fatym Layachi – Layla Chaouni – Latefa Ahrrare – Fatim Bencherki – Leila Kilani – Fatima Zahra El Jaouhari – Oum El Ghaït Benessahraoui – Nadia Larget – Aicha Sakhri – Amal Ayouch – Hanane Harrath – Laila Slassi – Chama Tahiri – Fadila El Gadi – Dina Benbrahim – Kenza Sefrioui – Mai-Do Hamisultane Lahlou – Maha El Boukhari – Khadija Alami – Zineb Dryef – Yto Barrada – Chorouk Hriech – Ghita Chraibi – Faty Badi – Nadia Lebbar – Yasmine Benkiran – Zineb Laraqui – Salima Naji – Rim Battal – Shams Sahbani – Touriya Fili – May Slimani – Myriam Sefraoui – Ghizlaine Chraibi – Kenza Benmbarek – Dounia Benslimane – Rania Laabid – Aicha Abbouzied – Amina Saadi – Maya Demnati – Lamia Skiredj – Khadija Tnana – Najate Limet – Yasmina Madafi – Meriem Bennani – Fadoua Maroub – Maha Sano – Khadija Dinia – Yasmina Naji – Mounia Layadi – Alya Sebti – Aïcha Fahme – Abla Ababou – Soumaya Akaaboune – Ghizlane Radi – Selma Laraïchi – Leila Fadel – Meriem Laraïchi – Mouna Anajjar – Hind El Ayoubi – Ghalia Chraibi – Leila Sadel – Rokia Laraqui – Houria Elkohen – Karima Mkika – Ikrame Moucharik – Chadia Jazouli – Souad Jamaï – Lina Tazi – Khadija Salah-Eddine – Meryem Belarbi Alaoui – Maria Achour Benmokhtar – Amina Kadiri – Malika Aissaoui – Meryem Mouline – Bahia Kadmiri – Latifa El Bouhsini – Bichara Tazi – Houriya Cherif Haouat – Najia Regragui – Khaddouj Gharbi – Lamia Sebti – Mouna Sebbahi – Amal Cherif Haouat – Mounia Tamsouri – Bouchra Amari – Atiqa El Ouarzazi – Mouna Ababou – Asmaa Chaidi Bahraoui – Hoda Mekouar – Amal Boutayeb – Asmaa Guedira – Salwa Tazi – Malika Demnati – Maria Elamrani – Nouhad Benkirane – Btissam Elamrani – Amal Lahlou – Rachida Megzari – Sanae Lahbabi – Nabila Alami – Assia Benabdenbi – Hajar Khribeche – Nouzha Guessous – Zineb Achraf – Kenza Bensouda – Meriem Ababou – Rachida Bensouda – Mina Socrate Idrissi – Yasmina Rhoulami – Ouafae Idrissi Kaitouni – Sarah Terrab – Selwa Kjiri – Rhizlaine Benachir – Nadia Doghmi – Najoua El Helali – Fadila Bouhouchi – Meriem Benkhouya – Hanaa Benabdenbi – Abla Khatib – Fatima Aderdoun – Mona Kadiri – Yasmine Chami – Meryem Kabbaj – Sophra Akhmisse – Ghizlane Sahli – Ikram Anwer – Hind Lfal – Myriam Wahbi – Zineb Chraibi – Hayat Benkhadra – Fatima Benabbou – Souad Bouslikhane – Halima Marouan – Bouchra Hadaj – Ihsane Bennani – Naima Benkirane – Ouafae Mrabet – Nadia Berrada – Souad Mouktadiri – Lilia Sellami – Sakina Rochd – Kenza Sedrati – Hakima El Haite – Ghizlane Mrani – Fatiha Hafraoui – Saida Idrissi – Mouna Bennani – Sophia Maazouz – Sara Chafiq El Idrissi – Khadija Choukaili – Leila Benjelloun – Bouchra Benyoussef – Laila Majdouli – Zoubeida Idrissi – Fatine Berrada – Najiba Oudghiri – Tijania Fertat – Sofia Laraki – Leila Bencherki – Maryeme Guedira – Sophia Tazi Mezian – Karima Laaroussi – Myriam Zaz – Houda Kettani – Mouna Benomar – Sofia Besri – Samira Saoud – Farida Bennani – Amina Debbagh – Karima Lahlali – Laila Essafi – Lina Fassi Fihri – Karima Khaldi – Nadia Bennani – Amal Barrada – Bouchra Fikri – Wafae Benamour – Aziza Lebbar – Hanane Fadi – Fati Cherkaoui – Ihsane Marzouki – Sophia Bennani – Hayat Gounberek – Fouzia Chraibi – Safouane Bennani – Keltoum Kharmouz – Meriem Alaoui – Ghita Terrab – Samia El Hassani – Naziha Houki – Oumaima Fathi – Nada El Hajji – Khadija El Khattab – Hanae Lahbabi – Najat Essaifi – Lamiaa Boujnini – Ghita Idrissi – Soumia Chaoui – Sofia Zizi – Badria El Hassani – Bahia El Otmani – Meryem Ghylan – Hajar Ismaili – Ghizlene Houki – Nadia Boujnane – Benchekroun Besma – Naima Ghellab – Soumia Idrissi – Amina Alaoui Mhamdi – Sofia Zniber – Malika Filali – Aicha Khidani – Maria Nadim – Nahla Benabdillah – Naima Hamidi – Amal Laraqui – Nadia Raissi – Naima Chikhaoui – Zaynab Ihsane – Naima El Gallaf – Narjis Benazzou – Aicha Ahmed – Soukayna Alaoui – Bahae Serghini – Souad Benscri – Nadira Barkalil – Souad Tazi – Asmaa Wakrim – Nadia Benabdallah – Meryem Bennis – Naima Khamrich – Afifa Belmejdoub – Fouzia Doukkali – Naoual Kettani – Zineb Terrab – Selwa Hadni – Majida Khatari – Samira Badri – Ikhlas Senhaji Amor – Laila Dinia – Fatiha Saidi – Siham Tahri – Nawal Hakam – Fadila Maaroufi – Nisrine Tamsouri – Fatiha Guerraoui – Nabila Abousair – Maryam Lamzouri – Latifa Serghini – Najat Razi – Khadija Berrada Sounni – Soumaya Toufiq – Khadija Maghouz – Touria Zinbi – Majda Laroussi – Sabrina Kamili – Hafida Bachir – Zohra Belghiti – Dina El Omary – Wassila Slassi – Zineb Benjelloun – Sarah Faïz – Damia Benkhouya – Karima Rochdi – Zahira Mouhsine – Selma Idrissi – Maryam Serehali – Khadija Asselman – Ilham Cherqui – Fatiha Alaoui Cherifi – Nouzha Majdoubi – Lamia Amor – Yasmina Cherkaoui – Naima Abdelmoumni – Hanae Bezad – Yasmina Attia – Fatime Zahra El Morjani – Malak Khattabi – Afaf El Haddioui – Hayatt El Amrani – Leïla Ben Seffaj – Fairouz Idbihi – Salima Raoui – Saadia Outidat – Naoual Yamouri – Jamila Ayegou – Nawale Graoui – Hanae Benabdou – Rhita Zemmouri – Layla Bensouda – Kanza Chefchaouni – Rim Nozhi – Ilham Lebbar – Dinah Azuelos – Zhor Chahir – Latifa Iraqui – Karima Nekkach – Ito Zair – Malika Alaoui – Zineb Bensouda – Kenza Chouafni – Atica Benchellal – Soad Zrikem – Safaa Issaad – Fatema Zenabi – Hakima Baddou – Khaoula Benomar Sebbahi – Mounia Semlali – Hakima Kabbaj – Laila Binebine – Samia Doghmi – Cherifa Rabeh – Mya Bouzid – Rim Affaya – Rkia Sayar – Soukaina Lahbabi – Yasmina Benabdallah – Meryem Agadi – Sophia Menni – Leila Naji – Meryem Oubenaka – Karima Hoummadi – Sanaa Jouhar – Salma Baghagha – Rabia Moukhless – Jalila Bouzid – Yacout Kabbaj – Fatima Mazmouz – Zahra Sebti – Amine Agueznay – Salma Lahlou

In solidarity:

Abdellatif Laabi – Abdellah Tourabi – Mohamed Abdelouahab Rafiki (Abou Hafs) – Karim Boukhari – Abdellah Taia – Yassin Adnan – Mahi Binebine – Malik Akhmiss – Tahar Ben Jelloun – Hicham Lasri – Ali Baddou – Noureddine Ayouch – Hicham Rouzzak – Ali Benmakhlouf – Hamid Barrada – Youssef Ait Akdim – Younes Boumehdi – Mounir Fatmi – Bichr Bennani – Abdelhai Laraki – Abderahim Kassou – Ahmed Belghiti – Hicham Hajji – Abdellah Baida – Hicham Gardaf – Mohammed Abderrahman Tazi – Soufiane Sbiti – Mohamed Achaour – Ismail Alaoui – Yassine Marroccu – Hassan Darsi – Reda Oulamine – Moha Souag – Hicham Tahir – Mehdi Alioua – Mohamed El Baz – Fehd Benchemsi – Abdou Berrada – Fouad Bellamine – Soufiane Ababri – Nejib Senhadji – Kamal Achkar – Said Hamich – Driss C Jaydane – Fettah Bennani – Mohamed Merhari (Momo) – Jamal El Khanoussi – Mohamed Sammouni – Amine Boushaba – Ali Drissi – Abderrak Zitouny – Bilal El Amrani – Fouad Challa – Younes Benkirane – Driss Chouika – M’hamed El Menjra – Kamil Tahiri – Adnane El Kadiri – Abdelilah Jennane – Abdelilah El Amrani – Reda Lahmouid – M’hammed Kilito – Ismail Iraqui – Ibne Lazraq Mohamed Al Anjari – Younes Ajarrai – Hicham El Khlifi – Aly Horma – Said Lahlou (Le Diass) – Aadel Essaadani – Hamid Ghazouani – Achraf Amari – Ahmed Fouad El Maati – Adil Terrab – Fathalla Jaouhari – Abdelmajid Rouchdi – Jamal Fikri – Mohammed Sbai – Rami Mohammed – Mohamed Karim Chraibi – Omar Berrada – Mohamed Khalid Chafaqui – Jamal Bourchachen – Mouhcine Ayouche – Mohammed Bakkouch – Abdelhamid Amzazi – Anas Bouanani – Abdellatif Belaziz – Khalid Moukit – Rabii El Gamrani – Larbi Maaninou – Mohamed Rachdi – Brahim Benkirane – Hakim Belmedahi – Adil Boutda – Driss Sarih – Fouad Saadi – Rabei Benkiran – Mohamed Abid – Younes Benmoumen – Amine Nawny – Mehdi Fath – Hakim Mao – Ali Jlili – Said Tbel – Mohamed El Wafy – Ali El Yousfi Alaoui – Mohammed El Fenni – Noureddine Saoudi – Karim Mzabi – Najib Benchekroun – Mokhtar Zagzoule – Amine Benbouzid – Abdeltif Chaouai – Abdelhamid El Iraki – Charif Alami Chawfi – Youssef Chaoui – Mohamed Mouktafi – Abderrahim Mekkaoui – Sami Lilbinae – Radouan Faiz – Mohamed Adil Karioun – Houari Ghoubari – Mehdi Ataibi – Kamal Marai – Mohyedine Benlakhdar – Lahcen Berkou – Ahmed Boukous – Thamy Ayouch – Taha Adnan – Rachid Ihdeme – Mehdi Elyousfi – Ahmed Idrissi Kaitouni – Younes Jraifi – Mustapha Bentaleb – Hocine Tandjaoui – Moumen Benabdeljalil – Jalal Bernoussi – Ali Benzekri – Anouar Ait El Mokhtar – Youssef Fdili – Abdelhak Najib – Youssef Hahjouj – Rachid Boufous – Omar Salim – Youssef Benjelloun Touimi – Mehdi Benbrahim Andaloussi – Zakaria Benabdeljalil – Mohcine Benachir – Yasser Sefiani – Lahcen Zinoun – Benaissa Mjid – Abdessamad El Mountassir – Larbi El Alami