Legalization of prostitution in Morocco: the shocking proposal of a lawyer

Relying on the "regulation of the exercise of prostitution in the city of Larache", published in 1917 by the municipal council of Larache to frame and organize the practice of prostitution at the city level, the lawyer Mohamed Almou, registered with the Rabat bar, called for the "legalization of prostitution in Morocco". In a post on his Facebook account, he explained that "prostitution, despite the moral and religious rejection it faces, remains an existing and expanding reality". Considering that this practice is rejected "in principle because it undermines the dignity and humanity of women", he argues that a "realistic approach requires the study of the phenomenon in a pragmatic way, by drawing on previous legal experiences to assess the ability of legalization to reduce its health and social effects".

According to the lawyer, the spread of prostitution has seen a clear increase in recent years, due to the development of modern means of communication, difficult economic conditions, the breakdown of family ties and the lack of employment opportunities. "Continuing to ignore the debate on the subject is a form of denial of reality and not a solution," he believes. He hammers that: "any possible legalization of prostitution must include regulations prohibiting minors, married women and pregnant women from engaging in this activity, the closure of clandestine premises, the prior authorization for each establishment, in addition to undergoing periodic medical examinations under the supervision of a specialized body".

For Almou, it is imperative to "protect public order and the tranquility of citizens by defining specific places for this activity, as well as precise closing times, and by prohibiting practitioners from ’showing themselves at the windows, bothering passers-by or attracting their attention’". Also, he stressed the need "to require establishment owners to inform the authorities of any change in the health status of workers within a maximum of 24 hours". In the lawyer’s eyes, "legalization could be a practical gateway to contain the alarming expansion of sexually transmitted diseases".

This approach "can contribute to the organization of public space and the reduction of manifestations of unregulated prostitution, as well as the reduction of crimes of fraud, blackmail and human trafficking, as well as the phenomenon of street children," he added, insisting that "the debate on the legalization of prostitution must be based on a balanced intellectual and strategic approach that takes into account human dignity and the protection of society, far from any reaction or normalization with the phenomenon". And to continue: "recognizing the existence of the problem is the first step towards treating it with rationality and collective responsibility".