Moroccan physician and author Asma Lamrabet is one of the foremost representatives of Islamic feminism in North Africa. She urges Arab women to follow their own path, distinct from Western feminism, in order to liberate themselves from male paternalism. Claudia Mende spoke to her in Rabat
This archaic law dates back to the colonial era but what is worse is that Moroccans actually believe it to be Islamic. Those who want to abolish it are told that they are interfering with something sacred. We have to start decolonising our minds even more.
No religion allows sexual relations outside marriage, but this is a moral issue between the individual and God. It is absolutely unacceptable for police in Morocco to drag people out of their homes because of this. This does not happen in other Arab countries. But at least we are having many more debates about this law today than we did ten years ago.