Morocco- In March 2021, a 16-year-old girl, Fatima Zahra, was sexually assaulted by six men, including her coach in a local football team. As result of the sexual assault, the girl felt pregnant. Agadir’s Court of First Instance has sentenced six men to one year in prison. The decision of the court has sparked debate about the Moroccan judicial system.

The prison sentence given to them recalled a similar incident that occurred in the city of Tiflet; three men sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl. The men were sentenced to two years in prison although they were found guilty of raping.

‘They should have been sentenced to 20 or 30 years in prison’

The rape of a minor can be punished by imprisonment of 10 to 20 years under the Moroccan penal code and the sentence can be increased to 30 years if there was a loss of virginity.

After the court decision, the Federal League for Women's Rights in Rabat (FLDDF) and the Women's Network for Mentoring (RFMN) released a statement condemning the decision. Expressing their solidarity with the victim and her family, the women’s organizations called on authorities to secure justice.

“The decision shows once again that Morocco needs a reform in the penal code and the constitution. Morocco has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Morocco must tighten penalties for all perpetrators of child sexual assault. The penal code must be amended for the definition of rape according to the international standards.”

In the statement, the women’s organizations also called on the government to combat violence against women and to eliminate discrimination against women and girls. “Morocco must effectively implement the laws protecting women and girls from violence.”