Morocco’s Bousbir Debate Resurfaces as Archived Television Programme Rekindles Discussion on Sex Work and Social Inequality
By Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS — A television programme originally broadcast in 2014 on Moroccan channel Medi1 TV has resurfaced across social media platforms, reigniting public debate over prostitution, social inequality and the historical foundations of Morocco’s sex industry.
The renewed circulation of excerpts from the programme Without Embarrassment has attracted significant online attention, bringing back into public discussion one of Morocco’s most sensitive social issues. The programme examined prostitution—described by some researchers as “sex work”—through academic and sociological perspectives rather than purely moral or legal frameworks.
Central to the discussion was the participation of Moroccan sociologist Abdelrahim Al-Atri, who explored the historical and social dimensions of the phenomenon, arguing that it cannot be understood separately from broader economic and societal transformations.
One of the most debated aspects of the programme concerned the historical district of Bousbir in Casablanca, widely known as one of the largest regulated prostitution quarters established during the French colonial period. According to the programme, Bousbir functioned as a structured and regulated space where sex workers were registered and subject to administrative and health oversight, reflecting a system in which the activity was managed and economically integrated rather than treated solely as a legal or religious issue.
The discussion also examined the geographical evolution of prostitution in Morocco. Participants argued that changing urban landscapes, tourism development and economic restructuring have contributed to the emergence of new centres associated with sex tourism, particularly in cities such as Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier. These developments were presented as part of broader transformations linked to tourism-driven economic activity and the search for foreign currency revenues.
The programme further linked the persistence of prostitution to a combination of structural factors, including poverty, unemployment, social vulnerability and shortcomings in public policy. Participants argued that economic hardship has pushed segments of society toward informal survival strategies, while social changes and the weakening of traditional support structures have altered community dynamics.
Another significant theme addressed during the discussion was the issue of social stigma. Participants examined the continued use of colloquial terms derived from the historical Bousbir district, arguing that such labels contribute to social exclusion and reinforce negative perceptions of women involved in the sector. They called for approaches that focus on dignity, social protection and the creation of economic alternatives rather than relying exclusively on moral condemnation.
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