Attacked, stabbed and thrown naked and bleeding onto the street. That’s what happened to two men in Morocco. They were together in their own home when a homophobic gang broke in and assaulted them. The attackers filmed the whole thing and put it on social media.
The worst part? The attacks have barely been investigated, while the victims have been arrested and charged with being gay. Unless we do something, they could end up in jail.
The trial of one of the victims is this Monday so the time is running out. But Aswat, our partners in Morocco, are telling us that resistance against this case is growing in the country. If we can amplify these voices of protest with a huge, global outcry, we might be able to get these innocent men free.
There's just 48 hours left: Will you ask Morocco’s Minister of Justice to free these two innocent men and investigate this appalling attack?
Being gay is still a crime in Morocco, punishable with up to 3 years in prison under the infamous article 489 of the country’s penal code. In the last few months, the government has been cracking down big time. Last month, two men were arrested after a video of them kissing surfaced. Four other men have been arrested or jailed just this year.
If we don’t step up now, these two innocent men could end up in jail for months or even years. Worse still, unless the attackers are properly brought to justice, the Government will be sending a message that these kinds of crimes are ok – further spurring the wave of increasingly blatant and brutal anti-gay attacks in Morocco.
But there is hope – coming from the Moroccan society itself. For the first time in history organisations throughout the country are mobilising and even political parties are speaking out publicly against this case. This is a chance to create a huge uproar around Morocco’s anti-gay crackdown, and put a stop to it once and for all. It could be a big step in repealing Morocco’s appalling anti-gay law. There’s just 48 hours left: click here to AUTOMATICALLY sign your name. Last year, two young Moroccans – Lahcen and Mohsine – were arrested and thrown in prison in Morocco, just for being gay. When we heard the news, we put out a cry for help – almost 80,000 All Out members responded calling for their release. Unfortunately, Lahcen and Mohsine were jailed for four months. But Moroccan authorities know that we’re watching.
Now is our chance to show them that we’ll keep fighting until everyone in Morocco is free to be who they are and love who they choose.
Thank you for going All Out,
Matt, Oscar, Enrique, Mathias, Sarah and the rest of the All Out team.
