This morning I headed to the CCCL where Moroccan women came to speak with us about religion, politics, and the role of women in their country. The session was incredibly interactive. We could ask questions at any point, and they genuinely wanted to hear about our own experiences from the few days we had already spent here. It felt less like a lecture and more like a conversation between people who were all genuinely curious.

Religion:

Morocco is a Muslim-majority country, and almost all Muslims here are Sunni. There is also a Jewish population that is legally recognized, which speaks to a layer of religious diversity that a lot of people don’t know about before coming here. Islam isn’t something that stays behind closed doors or shows up only on Fridays. It’s woven into the rhythm of everyday life in a way that’s hard to fully grasp until you’re living inside it. One thing I learned is that many Moroccan Muslims dream of making the trip to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. It’s considered one of the most important things a person can do, but it’s also a significant financial commitment. The trip can cost a lot of money and people can go for a week, a month, or even longer depending on what they’re able to do. Then there’s Ramadan, which is a whole experience in itself. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, and there are actually laws in Morocco around this. Eating or drinking in public during Ramadan can get you in trouble legally, which really shows how embedded religion is in public life here, not just personal practice. The call to prayer goes off five times a day across the city and at first it caught me off guard. Now I find myself listening for it. It’s a sound that pulls the whole community together, a reminder that faith here isn’t private. Watching my host dad stop what he was doing and pray in the living room, no ceremony, no announcement, without any bother he just did that.

Politics:

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, meaning there’s a king, King Mohammed VI, who holds a lot of power, but there are also elected officials and a parliament that are part of how the country is run. So it’s not a pure monarchy but it’s also not a full democracy in the way some other countries are. The king has the final say on a lot of things, and religion plays a role in politics too since the king also holds a religious title as Commander of the Faithful. There are political parties, elections, and a government that handles day to day policy, but civil liberties and press freedom are areas where there is still a lot of ongoing debate. People can express themselves but there are limits, especially when it comes to criticizing the king or the royal family. It’s a country that is modernizing in a lot of ways while still holding tightly to its traditions and its identity, and that tension shows up in politics probably more than anywhere else.

The Role of Women

Women in Morocco is a topic that keeps changing and being debated. There have been a lot of changes happening, especially for younger generations. More women are getting educated, more are entering the workforce, and there is a growing push for women to have a bigger voice in decisions that affect their lives. Divorce laws have shifted over the years. Women now have more rights when it comes to initiating divorce, which wasn’t always the case. There have also been stronger laws put in place against harassment, which is a big deal and something that younger Moroccan women in particular have been pushing for. Abortion is still a heavily restricted and sensitive topic here though. It is largely illegal with very limited exceptions, and it remains one of the more heated conversations happening in the country right now. Within my host family I’ve seen my host mom run the household confidently. Out in the medina I noticed women in hijabs walking alongside women who weren’t wearing them, shopkeepers, students, and professionals all going about their day. Morocco is actively working through what it means to hold onto its values while also making more room for women to lead, decide, and be heard.

What Has Impacted Me Most:

Without a doubt it’s the religion. Not in an overwhelming way, but in a way that made me pause. Watching my host dad pray in the living room was such a simple moment but it stuck with me more than almost anything else on this trip. Back home faith tends to be something people keep to themselves, something practiced quietly or saved for a Sunday. Here it’s different. It interrupts the day in the best possible way. Hearing the call to prayer echo through the streets of Rabat while walking through the medina, I felt like I was watching something historical, like a tradition passed through time. Living with a host family has made all the difference. These aren’t observations from a distance. They’re things I’ve seen and heard and sat with at the dinner table. And that changes everything about how you understand a place.

The Rest of the Day:

Outside of the session today had its own little adventures. During the lunch break a few of us made our way to the beach, which was exactly the kind of reset we needed. We took pictures, soaked up the sun, and just existed for a little while. Some locals came up and asked to take photos with us, which was flattering, but we politely declined since we weren’t sure if they would ask us to pay afterward. Smart call in hindsight. I also clearly missed a few spots with sunscreen because by the time we left I had a burn to show for it. Totally worth it though. Later in the afternoon we wandered near the markets and spotted chickens just casually roaming around alongside what felt like hundreds of cats. Nobody seemed bothered. The cats especially owned the place, weaving between each shop like they paid rent. And to end the day on the sweetest note possible, one of my friends and I stumbled upon the most adorable little ice cream shop. The perfect ending to a full, full day.