Moroccan Woman Jailed for 5 Years in Child Exploitation Begging Case

Being sentenced to 5 years in prison is almost a blessing for this woman, in the sense that Article 448 of the Penal Code provides for "imprisonment of 10 to 20 years and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 dirhams, when the offense is committed under threat of death or by violence, torture, sequestration, defamation", reports le360.

The case broke out in September 2019, following the broadcast of a video showing her beating her disabled son on the streets of Témara. She was quickly identified and arrested by the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN). Once brought before the public prosecutor, she admitted to beating her son whom she exploited in begging. The public prosecutor then ordered her to be held in custody at the local prison El Arjat in Salé.

The Moroccan government has declared war on begging by launching, on Thursday, May 23, 2019, the national coordination commission for measures to combat and prevent human trafficking.