A Moroccan journalist is facing backlash from the gay community in the kingdom after he expressed support for Putin’s war on Ukraine, praising the Russian leader for his homophobic policies. Rachid Achachi, a self-styled Moroccan geopolitics expert, shared on his social media pictures from queer parades in New York set against photos of a church in Russia and a Mosque in Morocco to justify his support for ‘Russian civilization’ against Western-facing Ukraine. “This is not a political, ideological or societal choice, but a civilizational destiny! Make your choice, mine has been made for a long time!” He tweeted in French. Ranked 39 in Europe Rainbow Map – A map created by ILGA-Europe, the European group of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association that monitors LGBT+ rights in the continent – Ukrainian queer folk enjoy a relatively free atmosphere where they can express their sexuality, organise parades, and join the military, while same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples remain limited.