Moroccan Official Charged with Spreading False Information about Woman due to Her Gender

A Moroccan official, Ziane, has been charged with spreading false information about a woman because of her gender, along with other serious offenses. The charges include defamation, “participation in adultery”, sexual harassment, and “participation in misbehavior destined to provide a bad example to children”. Ziane was arrested after an appeals court upheld the first instance verdict.

Human Rights Abuses

The Moroccan government’s human rights record is marred by a long list of abuses. According to Amnesty International’s Security Lab, award-winning human rights defender Aminatou Haidar’s two phones were targeted and infected with Pegasus spyware between 2018 and 2021.

• The UN has classified Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, but Moroccan authorities have failed to bring about a referendum on self-determination.
• Nineteen Sahrawi men remain in prison after being convicted in unfair trials for the killing of 11 security force members during clashes in 2010.
• Human rights groups have accused Morocco of systematic human rights abuses, including torture and political repression.

Women’s Rights

Morocco’s Family Code discriminates against women regarding inheritance and child custody decisions after divorce if the woman remarries. The code also allows judges to grant “exemptions” for girls aged 15-18 to marry at the request of their families.

• The 2018 Violence against Women law criminalized some forms of domestic violence, but required survivors to file for criminal prosecution in order to obtain protection.
• Marital rape is not explicitly criminalized, and women who report rape can face prosecution instead for engaging in sexual intercourse outside of marriage.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Morocco has yet to approve a draft law on the right to asylum, introduced in 2013. The government continues to arbitrarily detain migrants and refugees, followed by forced relocations or expulsions.

• In June, at least 23 African men died attempting to enter Spain from Morocco, with reports of excessive force used by Moroccan security forces.

Uyghur Activist Under Threat

Yidiresi Aishan, a Uyghur activist, has been under threat of extradition from Morocco to China since his July 2021 arrest. If extradited, he would face persecution and torture in China, violating Morocco’s international obligations.

Conclusion

These latest developments are the latest in a long history of human rights abuses and violations in Morocco. The international community must continue to pressure the Moroccan government to respect the rights of all its citizens, including women, refugees, and asylum seekers.