Sexual Violence in Morocco: Women Break Silence on Widespread Abuse

According to the latest report of the federation of the democratic league of women’s rights (FLDDF), 38% of Moroccan women are victims of sexual violence. They no longer hesitate to break the silence and testify. "I still remember that summer of 2014. We were at his place watching a movie when Mr. decided he wanted to sleep with me. I say no, I refuse, categorically, this no without a smile, this serious no, which leaves no doubt. Mr. still continued, threatening me, forcing me, beating me..." recounts on the Facebook page of the Masaktach collective, a 26-year-old Moroccan woman.

Victims of violence have decided to free speech. Between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2023, the LDDF-INJAD associative network against gender-based violence and the "Femmes Solidaires" association respectively received the testimony of 2,677 and 6,797 women victims of violence, according to the federation’s report. "Sexual violence refers to any statement, action or exploitation that violates the sacred nature of women’s bodies for sexual purposes. We recorded 1,064 cases, or 38% of women sexually abused. Among these cases, marital rape," explains Samira Muheya, president of the FLDDF, to Hespress.

"Moroccan laws, whether the Penal Code, the Family Code or Law 103.13 against violence, do not criminalize marital rape, which aggravates the situation," laments the president of the federation, stressing that "sexual violence also includes having unwanted sex, attempted rape, cases of sexual exploitation, incest, forced prostitution, the list is not exhaustive, there are many aspects but the only shared characteristic is that the suffering is the same." The activist also points out that sexual violence is "traditionally defined as assault".

Samira Muheya notes that sexual harassment is still very present in Moroccan society, and that unfortunately, this act "committed for the first time remains authorized, provided that the legislator stipulates persistence, which indicates insistence on the act and its repetition." The president of the FLDDF also mentions cases of rape and incest, specifying that "victims of incest remain the most impacted by the weight of society and also the most psychologically affected". Nearly 63% of married women are victims of sexual violence, she also points out, highlighting the vulnerability of these women in the conjugal home.