The Rabat Court of Appeal has doubled the initial sentences in the case of a 12-year-old rape victim who was repeatedly attacked in Tiflet by three men. Two of the rapists received 10 years in jail each, while the third, who is also the victim’s child’s father, received a 20-year sentence.

The guilty parties, who were aged 25, 32, and 37, received sentences ranging from 18 months to 2 years, a decision that provoked widespread outrage throughout the Kingdom due to its leniency in light of the gravity of the crime.

More than six hours were spent in court on Thursday hearing testimony from the young Sana, a witness who was there at the rape (the parent of one of the accused), and the witness’s witness.

The victim’s attorney, Abdelfattah Zahrach, stated that “the King’s Prosecutor has submitted a request for confidentiality of the hearing of the child, in consideration of her best interests.”

But, he regretted, this ought to have been done just during the victim’s hearing phase, with the rest of the proceedings open to the public.

Instead, we requested that the media be permitted to follow the trial’s progress because of the case’s ugliness and heinousness while maintaining the presumption of innocence and the requirements for a fair trial.

The accused’s attorney, Abdelhak Halhouli, responded, saying: “We must wait to see what the legal system will rule in this case, not just on appeal but also in cassation. We anticipate that the case’s conclusion will be reasonable and in line with reality.

The lawyer of the defendants defended the innocence of his clients, stating: “We appealed the verdict, since the defendants have denied the charges against them, whether before the judicial police, the investigating judge or the court of first instance.”

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An assembly was held outside the Court of Appeal in Rabat today as part of the “Spring of Dignity” coalition’s protest of the three men who raped an 11-year-old girl and received light sentences.

In order to protest the verdict and demand justice for the young victim, a number of groups that strive to safeguard women and children, as well as NGO leaders and locals, assembled in front of the court in Hay Riad.

A substantial number of participants and protestors showed there to voice their indignation at the decision.

The Spring of Dignity coalition and a number of organizations have closely followed the case. The offenders, who frequently molested the girl for eight months and caused her to become pregnant, received a sentence of just two years in prison, which is much less severe than what the Moroccan penal law calls for.

According to Latifa Bouchoua, the former president of the Federal Women’s Rights League, “we as a coalition oppose these sentences and are here to convey our discomfort with the plight of the children and women,”

According to Bouchoua, these sanctions do not equal the cruelty of “the collective and continual rape of the child.”

The former president added, “This is one case of many that occurs in our country; we routinely experience incidents like this that don’t generally make it to the public.”

The former president of the Federal League for Women’s Rights expressed her concern for the kids and their families and requested that the Moroccan court system respond with justice and support for rape and abuse victims.

The rally was organized by the coalition to oppose the court’s verdicts and punishments, which, according to the activist, “do not appropriately reflect the gravity of Morocco’s problem with pedophilia and the sexual exploitation of children and women.”

Also present at the rally was Khaoula Assebab, president of Jossour Forum Les Femmes Marocaine, who made a point of saying that they will “continue support for the young girl raped by three adults.”

The militant claims that the victims are not helped by the “unfair sentencing to the big offense.”

The spokesperson of the NGO argued that “tight rules and serious verdicts in such situations must be imposed,” adding that “this worsens the situation for women and children in Morocco and makes the victims hesitant to seek justice.”

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We often think that pedophiles and rapists are easily distinguished from their physical appearances. So, we think that kids might easily spot one and run away. However, it is too good to be true.

Sexual predators live among us, they have a job, wear appropriately, talk to us, come to our houses over dinner; they are friends, colleagues and family, males and females. Once we have established this fact. Spotting one is like finding a needle in a haystack.

While they might be portrayed as impulsive entities lacking the ability to control their thoughts or behaviors (which is sometimes true), science proves the opposite. Many are in control of their mental faculties and are rational decision makers. “Sexual Predators and Prey: A Comparative Study of the Hunting Behavior of Rapists and Child Molesters”.

However, there are cues that we can look for in order to avoid one. We should pay close attention to acquaintances that try to establish rapport with our kids in our presence. This is quite dangerous because we give credibility to this person and the kids trust them. Colleagues or family members that inquire a lot about our kids usually raise a red flag. Avoid people with history. Sometimes a predator might admit that they have been wrongly accused of molesting, history repeats itself. Don’t mention that you have kids to strangers, they don’t need to know.

What is ironic and nerve-racking is the fact that in Morocco it’s quite easy to get away with child rape than with consensual sex with a member of the opposite sex. It’s culturally inappropriate for a couple to have sex outside wedlock. Therefore, people in the neighborhood easily spot a couple trying to have sex. They gather and try to kick them out of the house or even call the police. On the other hand, a man carrying a kid or holding their hand luring them into his place doesn’t raise any suspicions at all, it’s a normal scene.

Parents must keep an eye on their kids all the time. Never trust their kids with anyone. In addition to that, schools, NGO’s and the Media should sensitize kids about the dangers of talking to strangers through different campaigns and programs.

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