Swiss Court Orders Fresh Review of Moroccan Woman’s Residency Case After Husband Sought to Annul Marriage
In Geneva, the marriage of a Moroccan woman to an Italian 32 years her senior led to several years of legal proceedings. After an attempt to annul their union and a refusal of residency, Switzerland’s Court of Justice ordered a fresh review of the woman’s case.
On October 7, 2019, a Moroccan woman born in 1993 married an Italian man born in 1961 in Geneva. The two had met on a dating site in May 2018. A few months later, the man traveled to Casablanca, where they spent two weeks together.
Their relationship had already been marked by several arguments and reconciliations. But five days after the wedding, on October 12, the husband began writing to his wife that he wanted to separate. He felt she was not the kind and well-educated person he had imagined.
On November 18, just six weeks after the ceremony, he asked the court to annul their marriage. He claimed that his wife had radically changed her behavior the day after their union. Among other things, he accused her of seeking to obtain a Swiss residence permit.
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The court rejected his request in January 2021. The judges found that the 32-year age difference in no way proved the marriage was one of convenience. They also noted that the Italian preferred younger women and had regularly complained that his wife had gained weight.
The marriage becomes a fight over residency
Relations between the spouses deteriorated further. The Moroccan woman reported domestic violence and submitted medical certificates as well as WhatsApp messages. Her husband disputed the allegations. Criminal proceedings brought against him were dropped.
In January 2023, the cantonal population office denied the Moroccan woman her residence permit and ordered her to leave. She challenged the decision, but the administrative court ruled against her in October 2025.
On February 3, 2026, the Geneva Court of Justice identified a decisive contradiction: the first court had refused to hear six witnesses proposed by the Moroccan woman, then faulted her for insufficient evidence of violence.
In its ruling, the Court overturned that judgment and ordered a fresh review, including hearings for the witnesses. It also awarded the Moroccan woman 1,000 Swiss francs in procedural compensation. Her right to remain in the country must be reconsidered in light of the evidence gathered.
