Morocco: the alleged attempted marriage of a 14-year-old girl was false, the investigation confirmed

The Attorney General of the King near the Court of Appeal of Kenitra denies the information concerning an attempted marriage by the Fatiha of a minor around 14 years old with an adult, without her consent, in an area on the outskirts of the city of Kenitra, as well as a copy of the complaint filed by an association of civil society. In a press release, he stated that he ordered the opening of a judicial investigation, entrusted to the judicial center of the Royal Gendarmerie of Kenitra in order to verify the veracity of this information.

The investigation concluded that the facts disseminated and relayed are devoid of any basis and that the girl mentioned in the complaint is in reality a 11-year-old child living with her family, without any connection with these facts. The prosecutor specifies that the investigation continues to identify the party at the origin of the dissemination of this false information on social networks, without respect for the privacy of the young girl and her family. The appropriate legal sanctions will be taken at the end of the conclusions of the investigation, concludes the press release.

Following the dissemination of this alleged "alert", the Injad network, part of the Federation of the League of Women’s Rights, filed two official complaints, in particular with the Attorney General of the King in Kenitra, denouncing a "serious act" and a flagrant violation of the rights of the child. Its president Najia Tazrout asked the authorities to open an investigation, to prevent the holding of this marriage and to ensure the protection and reintegration of the young girl, in accordance with the Constitution and international conventions. The mobilization on social networks was strong, with many Internet users denouncing a "worrying regression". Finally, it is only false information.