Moroccan Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Raping Minor, Reneging on Marriage Promise

The young man had been arrested after raping the 14-year-old minor. He was then released on the order of the Attorney General of the King after committing to taking the victim as his wife. But upon his release from prison, he was content with a traditional marriage to the girl. The two lived together in the accused’s family home for more than two years and had a child who unfortunately passed away.

After the death of the latter, the young man regularly argued with the now 17-year-old girl. Unable to bear these repeated tensions, the young man expelled the girl from the house. In response, she filed a new complaint against him for "rape." The prosecution requested the arrest of the accused and demanded the harshest sentence against him for recidivism, recalling that the defendant did not keep his promise to marry the victim after the first rape.

The prosecution added that the marriage of minors is punished by the Moroccan Penal Code in force, calling on the court to deal with this case firmly. At the end of his trial held on October 24, the young man was sentenced to ten years in prison with a fine of 50,000 dirhams, and to pay 50,000 dirhams to the victim as damages. He can appeal the decision.