Rabat- Morocco’s Minister of Justice and Liberties, Mustapha Ramid, said today that he will not entertain any modifications to the new Penal Code draft law’s articles concerning the criminalization of illicit sexual relations, or concerning breaking the fast in public during the month of Ramadan.
In a presentation regarding Morocco’s new Penal Code draft law at a national symposium addressing developments in the Penal Code draft law organized by his ministry in Rabat on Monday, Minister Ramid stressed that he would not respond to proposals that affect the core of the community and the faith of the state, as led by Commander of the Faithful.
Article 222 of the new Penal Code draft specifies that “anyone who is notoriously known for membership in the religion of Islam and ostensibly breaks the fast in public during the time of fasting Ramadan, without the reasons permitted by this religion” is liable to 1-6 months in prison and a fine of MAD 2000 to 20,000.
The draft law also stipulates severe punishments for convictions of blasphemy.
Article 219 of the draft law provides for “imprisonment from one year to five years” for anyone guilty of “undermining,” “offending”, or “insulting” God and the prophets by any means.
Article 223 establishes sentences of six months to two years imprisonment for the perpetrators of vandalism of places of worship or sacred religious texts.
Like the current Penal Code, the new draft criminalizes sexual relationships out of wedlock.
Article 490 of the new Penal Code draft law stipulates that sex outside marriage is punishable by one to three months in prison and a fine of MAD 2000 to 20,000. The penalty is more severe when any exchange or payment is involved.
The post We Won’t Soften Morocco’s Penal Code on Illicit Sexual Relationships: Minister appeared first on Morocco World News.