Fatima Sadiqi

A leading feminist and linguist advocating for women's rights and gender equality in Morocco and beyond.

Fatima Sadiqi, born in 1952 in Morocco, is a pioneering linguist and women’s rights activist whose work has reshaped gender discourse in the Arab world. As a professor at Rabat’s Université Mohammed V, she combines academic rigor with grassroots activism, focusing on issues like female genital mutilation (FGM) and gender-based violence. Her research on Moroccan Arabic dialects revealed how language perpetuates patriarchal norms, influencing policies to promote gender equality in education and public life. Sadiqi co-founded the Moroccan Association for Women’s Rights (AMDF), which lobbied for legal reforms such as the 2004 Family Code, which improved women’s rights in marriage and inheritance.

Her book Women and Gender in Moroccan Society became a seminal text in feminist studies, challenging stereotypes about Muslim women’s roles. Sadiqi’s global influence extends to her collaborations with UN Women and the Human Rights Watch, where she advocates for intersectional approaches to gender justice. Despite facing backlash, she remains a vocal critic of religious conservatism and a champion of secular feminism in the Arab world. Her TED Talk on gender inequality has reached millions, solidifying her status as a global icon of resilience.