Two Moroccan Men Go on Trial Today for Homosexuality

Two gay men, Lahcen and Mohsine, were arrested in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, for standing too close together while taking a picture at the popular monument, Hassan Tower. Charged with homosexuality and violating "public modesty," they could each face up to three years in prison. In a move that puts both their families and themselves at risk, authoritites released their identities and photographs to the public prior to their trial, which is set to take place today.

While illegal under the Moroccan constitution, and punishable by anywhere from six months to three years in prison, the North African kingdom's anti-gay law is only sporadically enforced. A large factor is the tourism industry—there is a general level of tolerance in resorts and sites popular with foreign tourists—which is why AllOut and its partner organization in Morocco, Aswat Collective, are hoping that an international outcry will help dissuade the government from convicting them.

Sign the petition on AllOut.org and tell Morocco that being gay is not a crime.