Controversial ’Debt Marriage’ Practice Raises Concerns in Rural Morocco

This type of union, which remains in all respects another disguised way of promoting the marriage of minors, was the subject of a debate in the 45 minutes program on the Al Aoula channel. As surprising as it may seem, it is a marriage contracted following a debt recognition signed between the father of the future bride and the future husband. This form of marriage is not yet very well known, but it is common in rural areas. "About 12,000 marriages of minors are still recorded each year in Morocco, among which an uncountable number of marriages by contract," reveals Yassine Omari, the presenter of the program, to Medias24.

According to the activist Hafida Chahra, coordinator of the association of young lawyers of Khémisset, also present in the program, "the amount of the marriage by debt recognition contract is not standard. In the event of divorce, the husband must repay the father of the bride the amount of this debt." Very widespread in the areas of Oulmès and Tiddas, the phenomenon would be explained by social reasons, according to the speakers. "They have managed to make the minors believe that a girl must marry before reaching 18 or 20 years old."

Testimonies collected anonymously from women who have accepted marriage by debt recognition are legion. "We live modestly when my father decided that I would get married. Our situation certainly pushed him to it," confides one of the victims. Many of them live this drama in silence, out of fear of scandal and abuse. According to their testimonies, they are victims of physical, moral abuse or simply abandoned shortly after the marriage. "My father decided that I had to marry a man from the village after signing a 40,000 dirham contract. But a few months later, my husband abandoned me to emigrate to Italy," confides one of the victims.

Although this type of marriage has no legal value, it escapes all control and continues to make the misfortune of many young girls. But fortunately, "the authorities have taken the problem seriously and are already looking for ways and means to put an end to the marriage of minors" which is a flagrant violation of children’s rights.