Concerned

[Shelby]

I am considering a trip to Morocco to meet a man i have been corresponding with for over a year now. I am a separated christian woman but not divorced yet. I have read things concerning relationships outside of marriage in Morocco and how it is punishable by law. Am I placing myself in danger?

[soliteyah]

Hi there,

I think you have a couple of things to be concerned about -- the law and the inherent risk in meeting a relative stranger alone in an unfamiliar country. For the law, I've seen sites that say you can't legally stay in a hotel room with a Moroccan person if you're not married (although two unmarried foreigners would be okay, as I can say from experience!). If you were planning to stay at this man's house, I'm not sure whether the same law would apply; I don't know if what Moroccans do in their own home is also subject to the law. I wouldn't be surprised if it is. So that leaves you staying alone in a hotel room, which in theory should be legal. I wonder if the Morocco tourist board or the Moroccan embassy might be able to offer you advice on this?

In terms of meeting someone in a foreign country, it could work out just fine, but I would take some precautions. I would strongly advise staying with him, and I'd meet him the first few times in a public place. I also wouldn't recommend telling him where you're staying, at least at first; you will want to have a safe and private place to retreat to just in case things don't work out. You might even want to bring a friend. I visited Morocco with my boyfriend, but it seemed like it would've been a tough place for a woman traveling solo; women sometimes get unwanted attention, and they can't really go everywhere that men can.

I loved Morocco and am not trying to discourage you from going, but it's important to do it as safely as possible. Good luck! Let us know what you decide.