Dear friends,
A harmless kiss and a gentle hug – and now three years in prison? This is what 16-year-old Sanaa and 17-year-old Hajar from Morocco are facing RIGHT NOW.
After someone photographed the two teenage girls secretly, the family informed the police and the girls were arrested. In Morocco, anything deemed "sexual activity" between people of the same gender is illegal. If we don’t help, they could end up in jail for up to three years.
The first hearing in court was today so the time is running out.My friends at Collectif Aswat and Akaliyat and I are rallying against the case here in Morocco. But it will take a huge, global outcry to convince authorities to set the girls free.
Being homosexual 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. The government has been continuously cracking down on lesbian, gay, bi and trans people.
Sanaa and Hajar could end up in jail for months or even years.This would be a devastating and traumatising experience for these two young girls. We heard reports that Hajar was held in the adult wing of a prison in Marrakesh and was "mistreated by other prisoners."
We know there's hope because we've seen it work before. In March this year, two men were attacked, stabbed, thrown naked into the street and sent to prison, simply because they're gay. Over 80,000 All Out members urged officials to release the men and prosecute their attackers instead. Shortly after, both men were released from prison!
Let's do this again for Sanaa and Hajar.
Thanks for going All Out,
Marwan, Collectif Aswat and Akaliyat
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