A brutal case of child rape allegedly involving 14 perpetrators during the Moulay Abdellah Amghar festival in El Jadida province has sparked national outrage, with civil society groups calling for severe penalties, including chemical or permanent castration, for those convicted of sexual violence against children.
Authorities acted swiftly following the assault, which took place during the annual religious gathering. The Public Prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in El Jadida launched an investigation that led to the arrest of one adult suspect, now in custody, while other suspects have been identified and are being pursued.
The victim, a young boy, underwent a forensic medical examination Monday, and his testimony was taken in the presence of his mother to help reconstruct the full scope of the attack.
Child advocacy groups described the crime as a “crime against humanity” and demanded an end to leniency in handling child sexual abuse cases.
“This is appalling in every sense, a crime against humanity and against childhood,” said Najat Anouar, president of the Matqish Waldi (Don’t Touch My Child) organization. “For an innocent child to be raped by 14 people is the ultimate lack of conscience.”
Anouar stressed that such cases expose a dangerous societal failure and urged Moroccan authorities to enforce stricter and more deterrent punishments for offenders. Her organization announced it will join the case as a civil party, vowing to support the victim and his family through legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, Najia Adib, head of a similar group Matqish Wladi (Don’t Touch My Children), took a firmer tone, calling for extraordinary measures, including “permanent castration” for those convicted of sexually assaulting children.
“These monsters deserve harsher than ordinary sentences,” she said, arguing that the root causes lie in a moral and educational crisis. “We’ve normalized chaos and deviance by tolerating them.”
Both activists criticized the lack of supervision and protection for children at large-scale public events such as religious festivals. Adib described the atmosphere as “chaotic and unsafe,” calling for urgent reforms in how Morocco safeguards children in public spaces.
Calls are growing for Morocco to align its national laws with international conventions on child protection, with activists also emphasizing the need for preventive education, victim support systems, and social reform.
As investigations continue, public pressure is mounting for Moroccan authorities to send a strong signal through the justice system to deter future crimes of this nature.
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