Moroccan Sex Workers Protest Police Crackdown in Unprecedented Demonstration

On Saturday, July 13, 2019, about ten prostitutes gathered in front of the Court of First Instance in Tetouan to protest against the Chief Commissioner of the city of Martil, Abdelouahab Tahiri. He had launched a large-scale operation to comb through brothels and against prostitutes operating in the city.

They brandished placards where they denounce the Commissioner’s decision to ban prostitution, especially on Boulevard Miramar and in the Chbar district, arguing that this profession is their only source of income.

The Public Prosecutor did not take long to put an end to this demonstration, by ordering the arrest of the prostitutes and the opening of an investigation into the origin of the protests, in particular on the involvement of drug barons and pimps.