Morocco: Two girls kidnapped and raped in Rabat

By Youssef El Kaidi Morocco World News Fez, July 25, 2013 There are many accounts of captivity narratives and how women were captured and taken away under threat as concubines and slaves. However, this was centuries ago before the rise of the modern nation state which is regulated by a set of laws. To hear of the same stories recurring nowadays means either the law does not exist or it is not enforced. Two young girls were kidnapped two weeks ago, just before the advent of Ramadan, in Rabat as reported by Yabiladi. Jiahan and her friend Hiba, both are 17 years old, were taken to an empty place in the vicinity of Rabat and threatened by a knife; Jihan was assaulted and her friend raped.

“My friends, all very dear and close to my heart, thank you for your wishes. Unfortunately, I don’t have the heart to celebrate anything. This cruel and unpredictable life showed me these days one of the most despicable faces. The fight I conducted alone with stifling fear and confusion has become too heavy for my frail shoulders; a fight with paramount priority to support the pupil of my eye and help her emerge of her post-traumatic shock: victim of bullying, kidnapping, assault, touching, sexual violence and abuse,” Said Jihane’s mother, Fatim Zahra Yaacoubi, on her Facebook page.

The culprits were arrested on Monday morning, July 22 and were presented before the prosecutor on Wednesday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. at the court of Hay Riyad, Rabat. Sources from the court affirmed that the relatives of the victims and the victims themselves were heard before the defendants confessed their crime.

According to the preliminary investigation, one of the accused already knew Jihane and her friend and colluded with his friend to kidnap the girls. After handing down the charges against them, the defendants will be prosecuted for premeditated rape and attempted murder of minors. The next hearing is scheduled for August 5, 2013.

What’s extremely deplorable about this affair, and many similar ones, is that the defendants claim that they are the “sons of..” to escape justice. If all Moroccans are equal before the law as the constitution states, legal privileges should be abolished and NO ONE should escape justice. This affair stirred strong indignation on social networks. In a matter of 24 hours after the launch of a Facebook page for solidarity with the victims entitled “En soutien a Fatima Zahra Yaacoubi” almost 8000 people liked the page.

“Everyone should be mobilized to stop the massacre. We are all Jihane. Our daughters will all be Jihane!! Please, let’s be supportive of Mrs. Yaacoubi to help her courage which breaks the silence of “hchouma” (embarrassment) and “chouha” (scandal); the two words which just encourage such animalistic acts,” said Sarah Mia in a comment.

“Justice must be unforgivable to these criminals. In Morocco, the law must Eyre above all, and especially against the abuse of power. God will help rebuild a small Jihane, inshallah. With you wholeheartedly,” commented Nazha Karama Idrissi.

© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed