Rabat -Moroccan controversial actress Loubna Abidar said in a press conference in Gijon, Spain, that Morocco is one of the “world’s top consumers of wine and alcohol.”
Abidar, who plays the role of a prostitute in Marrakech, was awarded the "best actress" in controversial film Much Loved at the Gijon International Film Festival.
After receiving her award, Abidar talked about her “fight” for Moroccan prostitutes, claiming Morocco is a land of “hypocrisy”, in an interview with elcommercio.es.
“Morocco is one of the main consumers for sex and alcohol, but we live under a veil of hypocrisy."
“By removing this veil, I knew this was not going to go unnoticed and that I would pay the consequences. What I did not know against is that going to hit me and threaten me with death. "
The actress sought refuge in France after she suffered an assault by a group of fans and was threatened with death earlier in November.
The film, directed by Nabil Ayouch, attempts to portray the life of prostitutes trying to make ends meet in the ‘tourist capital’ of Morocco, Marrakech.
The movie Zine li fik was shot in Darija, the Moroccan dialect, and translates literally to The Beauty You Have. It also has been the center of controversy in the kingdom and the source of much heated debates after its ban in the country.
“I have wanted to mourn but I will not do because I've cried enough,” she said in reference to the harassment and attacks she has received in Morocco.
Having been brought up in in a poor neighborhood in Marrakech, she said she had “enormous respect” for women who have been forced one way or another into a life of prostitution.
“The character symbolizes my childhood. Since childhood I have seen these women [which is] why I feel enormous respect. They are fighters, brave and dedicated to the job because they have had no other choice in life. It has been a pleasure and honor to give them a voice.”
The Moroccan actress is set to play the role of a woman "in radical Islam", which is for her is another way to fight the patriarchy.
“You only live once in this life and it is good to be different. We must fight. We are Arab women and all we want once and for all is to be like any other normal women. That is our struggle.”
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