This is a surprise in this social debate: according to a study produced by Moroccan NGOs, 82% of Moroccans are against a reform aimed at gender equality in terms of inheritance, and among them 84.5% of women . They explain that, for them, this rule is an immutable religious dogma. An aberration for Amina Bouayad, the president of the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH): this rule of sharing contributes, according to her, to the feminization of poverty. Indeed, Morocco stagnates at the 144th rank in the world in terms of gender equality. An argument that was not to the liking of the Islamist party PJD: the Islamists asked the president of the institution, to “stop undermining religious constants” Moroccans.
Opinions are divided between young and old, city or country dwellers, educated or uneducated. But here too there are surprises: the younger generation seems more conservative than its elders. Lina, 18, is a student, and even if she hangs out in the parks with her friends, she remains very attached to traditions. “I am not saying that we should not strive for equality, but I believe that there is nothing to changeshe develops. Men and women must complement each other, they must not be identical, otherwise marriage would be meaningless.”
“If I were to take on the role of the man, I wouldn’t need him, so the man has to continue to have a bigger share of the inheritance, because he’s in charge of the family.”
Lina, 18-year-old Moroccan studentat franceinfo
Lina does not see this social debate in a good light: “Unfortunately ideas are changing: we see men who do not assume and women who want complete equality, while they are different.”
Another generation, another education. Karima is in her sixties, and is the opposite of Lina’s ideas. She calls for reform and equality between men and women. “Of course I’m for it! Unfortunately in Morocco, it’s not fair, it’s not half and half.” It makes a connection with the educational level of women: “Moroccan women who have studied will tell you the same thing: they are only women who have a level of study equivalent to CM2 who do not want to change and stay that way.”
The reform of the Family Code, which is regularly discussed, is not yet scheduled in Parliament. The outcry from the Conservatives is blocking. But the reform will have to be done one day or another out of respect for the 2011 Constitution and for the Kingdom’s international commitments. In the meantime, the educated classes, mentioned by Karima, circumvent the problem and make donations during their lifetime to rebalance the inheritance shares between boys and girls.