Intersecting Struggles? Nonreligious, Queer, and Feminist Activism in Morocco

This presentation poses the question of what counts as nonreligious activism. Drawing on patchwork ethnography, carried out intermittently between 2016 and 2023 in Morocco and with the Moroccan diaspora in Western Europe, I explore what nonreligious activism among former Muslims can look like. Hereby it becomes clear that nonreligious activism is not always clearly identifiable and distinguishable from other forms of activism. Among others, queer and feminist groups share many struggles with nonreligious Moroccans. Solidarity is visible because many queer and feminist issues are related to (non)religion. As a consequence, nonreligious activists often do not target nonreligious topics directly but are often involved in advocating for related causes, such as LGBTQ+ rights (e.g., abolishing Penal Code, §489), sexual liberties (ending Penal Code, §490), and the right to abortion (reforming Penal Code, §453). These topics are not nonreligious in themselves, but most nonbelievers would consider these aspects essential and argue that they indirectly link back to religion. This connection is also made by Moroccan authorities, who often label activists, who are advocating for liberal rights, as atheists. This became evident during the Moroccan version of the Arab uprisings, the February 20 movement, when protesters were accused of being atheists. Similar accusations have surfaced in generalising statements about Morocco’s younger generation. Overall, this presentation aims to foster our understanding of how nonreligious activism intersects with other movements for justice, illustrating how different struggles blend into each other.