Book “Lesbian Diary” withdrawn from the Rabat Book Fair, morocco.

Fatima ZZahra Amzkar’s novel addresses the struggle of moroccan LGBTQ+ community.

The Ministry of Culture of Morocco has announced that Fatima Zahra Amzkar’s “Lesbian Diaries” will not be screened at the 2022 Rabat International Book Fair.

This statement came after a campaign against the existence of the book and its authors, following the release of novel leaflets and promotional materials that promised to sign the book at the fair. The Ministry of
stated that the book should not or should not be allowed to be exhibited at trade fairs as it was allegedly not on the list of approved books.

The ministry further claimed that the publisher intends to promote the book at fairs without permission. Talking to Abdel-alim, the author of the novel dismissed the ministry’s allegation, saying that if it was the reason for the decision, it would have been withdrawn on the first day.
“It was removed only after the campaign that started last night,” she said Thursday. “Some people started a campaign against me and popularized hashtags.” Online using hashtags like # NoToHomosexuality after the book signature was announced by Amscar at the
book fair. The campaign called for a boycott of the fair. Opponents said the book caused a “moral decline” and quoted Moroccan law that keeps homosexuality a crime.
“The state has decided to stand by those who live in darkness and intolerance,” Amskar added to Abdel-alim, detailing what she described as a coordinated attack on her. “Every day I’m threatened with insults and murders, I feel a threat to my life.”
Lesbian Diary
Written in Arabic, this novel focuses on the struggle of Morocco’s LGBTQ + community and details the abuse the protagonist faces from her family and society.
“I wanted to share an unspoken existing story about social issues, child marriage, and other issues prevailing in our society,” Amskar told Abdel Alim in January. rice field. The author stated that he wanted to dispel the misunderstandings and concerns that people in the country had about sexual minorities. LGBTQ + people in Morocco are constantly facing social and legal oppression, using religious and cultural values as an excuse.
Article 489 of the Moroccan Criminal Code criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts with same-sex persons” and same-sex relationships are punished by long-term imprisonment and fines.
Despite requests from local organizations and international organizations to non-criminalize Morocco’s same-sex relationships, the government has rejected the idea and no political party supports LGBTQ + rights.

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