Massage parlors in Morocco: Disguised places of prostitution?

The woman was accused of possession, management and exploitation of a premises habitually used for prostitution, soliciting persons to prostitute themselves by exerting pressure on them, and soliciting a minor under 18 years of age to prostitute themselves.

Five other people were also prosecuted in this case. The Court acquitted the second defendant of incitement to prostitution, and sentenced the third and fourth defendants to 6 months in prison without a fine for incitement to debauchery and prostitution.

The case began last December following complaints from residents accusing the massage parlor of practicing prostitution. The investigation revealed that the defendants were attracting clients, including married men, and then taking them to a house rented by the members of the network.

In a related case, five other people were convicted of running a house of prostitution, aggravated theft with aggravating circumstances, violence and threat of weapon use, filming and recording a video of the victim without her consent. Four defendants were sentenced to 10 years in prison and one defendant to 8 months in prison and a fine of 5,000 dirhams.