HENAN HARIT

Morocco- Although Moroccan women have participated in politics; in decision-making positions, as MPs, candidates, their presence in politics remains weak and their demands are ignored.

Feminist movements in the country define the situation causing women to abandon politics as “political violence” against women. The Democratic Association of Moroccan Women released a statement to draw attention to the political violence against women. In the statement, the association condemns the negative attitudes against women in politics and expresses their concerns. We spoke to Moroccan women about the political violence against women.

Indicating that women, run for the elections held on September 8, were subjected to harassment, Khadija Rabah, one of the founders of the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women, said that the gender quota system has turned into a control mechanism rather than a democratic mechanism. “When we announced our candidates for the elections, we faced harassment, exclusion, violence, and blackmail.”

“Law protecting women should be reviewed”

“Our female counselors were subjected to attacks. These attacks were not individual and coincidental attacks. The attackers aimed to terrorize women, to isolate them from public spaces, and to exclude them. Such attacks are gender-based political violence. Such political attacks reinforce the importance of reviewing the law protecting women against violence,” Khadija Rabah told us.

Khadija Rabah called on the competent authorities to ensure protection for women to participate in politics.

“Media outlets don’t report about the success of women”

Criticizing the attacks on women, Hasna Kaji, professor in Law, Political Science, stated that women are educated and prepared to be good women and mothers since childhood. Mentioning the role of media outlets in supporting women in politics, Hasna Kaji said, “Some media outlets don’t report about the success of women in politics.” She also mentioned the economic effects on women. “When we talk about poverty, we talk about the feminization of poverty. We know that politicians need money to do politics. For this reason, politicians should have financial support.”

“They are subjected to harassment”

Underlining that the political parties hold their meetings very late and women are subjected to harassment due to late meetings, Hasna Kaji stated that women, who go home late at night, are considered differently by society. “Not only women living in the urban areas but also women living in rural areas should be supported to participate in politics.”