Moroccan Teen Dies by Suicide After Resisting Forced Marriage, Authorities Report

Aged 18, the young girl hanged herself in her room, refusing to submit to the wish of her parents who wanted to force her into an arranged marriage, reports the Hespress website.

No testimony could be collected from the parents, still overwhelmed by this tragedy, which suggests moments of strong psychological pressure experienced by the victim. The circumstances and the exact reasons for her suicide have not yet been precisely determined.

Despite the entry into force of the new Family Code in 2004 (Moudawana), the number of child marriages continues to increase alarmingly. The Minister of Justice, Mohamed Aujjar, had stated during a conference: "The marriage of minors remains a social reality that concerns everyone."

The victim’s body was transported to the morgue of the provincial hospital of the city for the purposes of an autopsy, while an investigation was opened by the services of the Royal Gendarmerie.