Women of Sin
Fall Grants 2024 - Post-Production Stage
Noufissa Charai / Feature Documentary / Morocco, France, Qatar / 70 min / Original Language: Arabic, French / Interests: Feature Documentary
Synopsis
“‘Women of Sin’ follows Karima Nadir and her collective, KIF MAMA KIF BABA, as they fight for women’s rights in Morocco, where sexual relations outside marriage are illegal under Article 490 of the Penal Code—a remnant of the French colonial era. This law has devastating consequences for single mothers and their children, who face systemic marginalisation. At 36, Karima is a single mother and grassroots activist who has experienced the injustices she seeks to dismantle. While raising her son Hakim, who faces harassment due to his unrecognised status, she forms a deep bond with him and her 75-year-old mother. Their intimate conversations explore themes of women’s rights and personal freedom.
The film chronicles Karima’s transformation from activist to public speaker, becoming a key figure in Morocco’s struggle for gender equality. Together with lawyer Ghizlane Mamouni, she co-founded KIF MAMA KIF BABA, an organisation advocating for parental equality and the rights of single mothers. Their work is already making an impact. In October 2023, King Mohammed VI called for urgent reforms to the Family Code, with KIF MAMA KIF BABA playing a vital role in shaping the debate. ‘Women of Sin’ examines the concept of justice in a male-dominated society, celebrating the resilience of Karima and others fighting for personal freedom and the right to love without fear.”
Credits
- Director
- Noufissa Charaï
- Screenwriter
- Noufissa Charaï
- Producer
- Stéphanie Lebrun, Noufissa Charaï
- Production Company
- Babel Doc, Hiya Production
About the Director
Noufissa Charai was born in Fes, Morocco. She holds degrees in journalism and political science, having studied in Paris and San Diego. She worked as a journalist at France 24 for over seven years and, as a Paris correspondent for Huffington Post Maghreb and L’Observateur du Maroc et d’Afrique, conducted numerous interviews and reports. As a Moroccan correspondent, she covered major news events for TF1 and BFM TV. Noufissa is the founder of Hiya (“She” in Arabic), a production company based in Morocco, and continues to collaborate with international media. ‘Women of Sin’ is her debut feature-length documentary.