Morocco Protests Erupt Over Woman’s Jailing for Premarital Sex

The fight for individual freedoms is taking on a new turn in Morocco, after the one-month prison sentence of Hanaa, a young woman from Tetouan, accused of having had a sexual relationship outside of marriage. It is therefore against this article that criminalizes sexual relations outside of marriage, that the "Outlaws" movement, invites internet users to a digital sit-in this Wednesday.

Hanaa is a young mother whose rather intimate video ended up, without her knowledge, on social networks. The man who committed this act was not disturbed, but Hanaa was arrested and convicted under Article 490, at the heart of all the grievances and this digital mobilization. "These are initiatives that we have already seen, for example with the Black lives matter movement," explains director Sonia Terrab, co-founder of the "Outlaws" movement, contacted by telephone by RFI. "Not only do we demand that this article be repealed, but we support Hanaa in her decision to appeal her one-month prison sentence."

In September 2019, Article 490 had already sparked a wave of outrage and demonstrations, following the arrest of journalist Hajar Raissouni, accused of having had an illegal abortion. She was released after being pardoned by King Mohammed VI after 47 days in detention, the same source specifies.