Morocco to revise law that allows rapists to marry their victims

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Casablanca- The Moroccan Commission on Justice is expected to meet on January 8 in order to debate the draft law proposed by the party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), aimed at revising Article 475 that grants rapists the right to marry their victims.

Article 475 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which allows rapists to avoid prosecution by marrying their victims, has been one of 2013’s most controversial issues in the country.

The Commission on Justice, Legislation and Human Rights will examine, next Wednesday 8, PAM’s draft law calling for the revision of Article 475.

Since the suicide of Amina Filali in March 2012, civil society organizations called on the government to the repeal Article 475, which not only strips victims of their basic rights, but also allows their rapists to flee the grab of justice easily.

Amina Filali was a 16-year-old girl from Larache, who committed suicide in 2012 by supping rat poison after being forced by her family to marry her rapist.

Ever since, and under the pressure of Moroccan civil society, Benkirane’s government promised to reconsider this Article of the Moroccan Penal Code. However, it was not until recently that the government showed serious interest in keeping that promise.