Rabat, Morocco – (African Boulevard News) – Moroccans took to the streets to protest the initial verdict in the case of a minor who was gang-raped, and the postponement of the appeal trial on Wednesday, May 31. The victim’s family members and supporters gathered outside the Agadir court of appeal to demand justice.
The trial was postponed due to the absence of one of the defendants and will resume on June 6, sparking outrage among the protesters, who called for justice for the victim and an end to impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence.
The case goes back to 2018 when the 17-year-old girl was abducted, drugged, and raped by at least 12 men over two months in the city of Beni Mellal.
The court in the city of Beni Mellal initially sentenced seven of the suspects to up to 20 years in prison, three others to lesser terms, and acquitted two others. However, the verdict was appealed by both the prosecution and the defense.
The delay in the appeal trial is just one of many injustices that activists say the victim has faced. The victim, who cannot be named under Moroccan law, was initially charged with “consensual sex outside of marriage” before being cleared of the charge. Her family members say she has also been subjected to social stigma and harassment as a result of the case.
“The delay in the appeal trial is yet another injustice for the victim and her family. The perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions, and the victim must receive justice and support,” said Fatima El-Issawi, a women’s rights activist.
“Rape is a serious crime, and it must not go unpunished. We need to create a culture where victims of sexual violence are believed and supported, and perpetrators are held accountable for their actions,” she added.
The case has sparked nationwide protests and renewed calls for reforms to Morocco’s rape laws, including the removal of the controversial “marry-the-rapist” clause, which allows a rapist to avoid prosecution if he marries his victim.
The victim’s family has called for justice and an end to impunity for perpetrators of sexual violence. “We want justice for our daughter, and we want to make sure that no other woman has to go through what she has gone through,” said the victim’s father.
Activists say that the case is a test of Morocco’s readiness to combat sexual violence and impunity. They are calling on the government to take action to ensure that victims of sexual violence receive justice and support, and that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
