The country of Morocco as we know it has been around since its independence in1956, but the history of that region extends far into a past filled with conquest, empire building, and exotic traditions. While today’s Morocco is a far cry from the Phoenician, Roman, or Byzantian cultures that once consumed the region with war, conquest and expansion, today’s Morocco definitely celebrates a decadent culture full of music, dance, food and a stifled sexuality that is dying to break out in spite of religious norms and cultural taboos.

Like many countries, Morocco is at a point of transition. As the world gets larger with the help of modern technology, and therefore more intimate in terms of cultural proximities, countries become more and more exposed to the ways and beliefs of others, and inevitably their own customs, beliefs and taboos become challenged. As is indicative of many Islamic countries, the gripe most older generations have is with the Western world, citing the growing “waywardness” of their children and grandchildren as a direct result of the more secular influences of Europe and America. The gripe of the youth of such countries also has to do with the Western world and why they can’t more like it, with the better civil and sexual liberties.

Not to be mistaken as a strictly religious country, Moroccans take a more secular view of Islam, particularly in the more urban areas. And while the country definitely adheres to Islamic doctrine, the religious presence in the country is not as strict as it is in other parts of the Arab world. And with a growing population of Moroccan youth becoming more attune to the trends and cultures of other countries, not to mention the number of them who travel the world and see it firsthand, the move toward even more sexual freedom is imminent.

Relations between men and women are also improving. In the past, the patriarchal structure of Moroccan society afforded very little rights to women in regular society as well as in the bedroom. Pleasure was a man’s domain and the woman was expected to provide it. According to a study published in Culture, Health and Sexuality in 2000, there is a noticeable shift occurring in the realm of male/female relations. 

Islamic tradition is more liberal in its views on sex than say Christianity. While Christianity sees sex as a “regrettable necessity,” Islam encourages the act of sex and the pursuit of pleasure between a husband and wife. Islamic doctrine sees the carnal act as a union not only between the couple but also with God. On the flip side, however, while the religion warns against abstention from sex, it certainly doesn’t promote the notion of casual or premarital sex. And for a great amount of Morocco’s population, these guidelines are diligently followed. But what seems to be an ever-growing trend is a new attitude immerging from among the youth of the nation. They believe that it is possible to be religious, but also free to express their sexuality. This way of thought is more prominent in the urban parts of Morocco. In the more rural areas, people tend to stick to the religious guidelines set before them.

Certain groups in Morocco still engage in the practice of polygamy. According to Moroccan law, a man can marry as many as four women, given that each woman shares the same rights. One colorful argument for polygamy is the idea that certain men can be so sexually driven that one wife will not be enough to satisfy them!

Homosexuality is illegal in Morocco, and acts of a homosexual nature can result in a sentence of six months to three years in prison. Despite the country’s long history of influence from many decadent and secular cultures, the country still maintains a heavily religious view toward same-sex relations. In stark contrast to neighboring Spain, which takes a much more liberal attitude regarding homosexuality, Moroccan society largely rejects it as immoral. The Moroccan homosexual association, KifKif, is at the helm of the gay rights movement in Morocco and is actively involved in efforts to have certain laws against homosexuality revised or overturned and is also working toward expanding the dialogue on homosexuality throughout the country by holding seminars on sexuality, gender and homosexuality.

Child sex tourism is an ever-growing problem for many countries throughout the world, and Morocco is no stranger. Many of the country‘s children are either abandoned or runaways and an easy lure for those in the sex tourism business. Seen as an ever-growing problem, there are laws that have been put in place to help combat sex tourism of any sort. For instance, a non-violent solicitation of sex of a child can land the offender in prison for 2-5 years. A violent solicitation of the same nature will land the perpetrator in prison for as many as two decades. Even more severe is the three-decade sentence once can serve for sexually soliciting a young female virgin. Despite the risks involved in such an industry, the problem seems to persist and is even turning global. An international clientele frequents the country for its black-market services and children are even sent over to Europe where they are acclimated into the European countries’ sex trades.

Morocco is a country of rich and poor, new and old, religious and secular. It’s a country with energetic and party-inspiring music, delicious cuisine and the sexiest clothing and adornments. And like many countries in its similar position, Morocco is a country in transition. The secularization of the youth raises challenges of sexual freedom unprecedented in previous generations, and the growing number of gay right’s activists is an even larger indication of this growing trend. The youth of the country want their freedom, be it on the streets, in the bedroom or regarding marital rules and obligations. Whether or not these trends will continue has yet to be seen. One thing’s for certain, however: the people of Morocco have a passion indicative of all countries in the region and when such passion sets its sights on something, it’s usually fulfilled.