Groups condemn safety failures after blind students fall into a hole near institute for the blind

Moroccan disability rights groups voiced outrage after two visually impaired students fell into an open hole near the Abou Al Abbas Sebti Institute for the Blind in Marrakesh, citing a lack of safety and accessibility around the facility.

In a statement, the Anakhil Club for Sports of the Blind and Visually Impaired said the incident “reflects the total absence of safety conditions and accessibility standards in the surroundings of an institution meant to serve people requiring special care.”

The group called for an “immediate and thorough investigation” to determine responsibility, including that of the company in charge of nearby construction works.

Rachid Sabahi, a disability rights advocate, told Hespress the accident “shows a dangerous lack of attention by those managing public works,” while Samira Bekhti, president of the Moroccan Organization of Women with Disabilities, said it “illustrates the alarming absence of safety standards even around institutions dedicated to people with disabilities.”

Bekhti urged authorities to enforce accessibility laws under Framework Law 97-13 and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, calling the Marrakesh accident “a wake-up call to ensure dignity and safety for all.”