Rabat – Literary enthusiasts gathered Thursday at Espace Rivage, home to the Hassan II Foundation of Moroccans Residing Abroad, where Rim Battal discussed her recently launched book “Je me Regarderai Dans les Yeux.” Fellow Moroccan writer Mounir Sarhani joined Battal to explore the themes of her debut novel, which include female marginalization, patriarchy, eroticism, and intimacy within the Moroccan context.
Battal was born in 1987 in Casablanca, Morocco. She studied journalism at the Superior Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC) in Rabat, then pursued further studies at the Superior School of Journalism in Paris, where she currently resides, alongside Marrakech. Her journalism training at ISIC and later in Paris provided her with a sharp observational lens that enriches her storytelling and adds depth to her earlier poetic works. This is especially evident in “Je me Regarderai Dans les Yeux.”
Battal’s literary universe revolves around recurring themes such as motherhood, feminism, sexuality, and erotica. Her boldness has been praised by many and criticized by others for being ‘provocative.’
“I don’t see how talking about sexuality can be provocative,” said the writer in an interview with Radio France.
Battal hopes that her poems and latest novel will help break the cycle of how women perceive themselves—and how they are perceived by others. Her novel reflects the reality of how women are treated not only in Morocco but across cultures worldwide. She firmly rejects any association of her work with exoticism, insisting that the issue of sexuality and the perception of women is global, even if her novel places it within a Moroccan framework.
“Je me Regarderai Dans les Yeux” has stirred controversy, particularly among Moroccan audiences. To this day, topics related to sexuality and virginity remain taboo in Moroccan society. Throughout her career, Battal has never shied away from such subjects, regardless of the criticism she might receive—even criticism from her home country.
