‘Lenient’ 5-year verdict sparks anger in high-profile assault case

The criminal chamber of the Court of First Instance in Beni Mellal on Tuesday sentenced four defendants to five years each in prison for the sexual assault of a young woman with a mental disability in the village of Bouidmouma, within the Aghbala jurisdiction.

The court ordered the convicted men to pay court costs and formally notified them of their legal right to appeal within the statutory time frame.

In the civil case, the court ordered the defendants to jointly pay 20,000 dirhams ($2,000) in compensation to the plaintiff, along with limited enforcement measures.

During the trial, the court ordered a DNA test to determine the biological father of the victim’s child. The cost of the procedure was set at 5,000 dirhams, with a deadline for depositing the funds with the court registry so the competent national laboratory could carry out the analysis.

The case dates back to late 2025, when the victim, then seven months pregnant, was transferred to a maternity facility run by the Aghbala commune. The transfer followed instructions from the wali of the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region after appeals from civil society and human rights activists highlighting the family’s extreme social vulnerability.

According to case details, the victim was subjected to two separate sexual assaults at different times, resulting in two pregnancies and the birth of two children. The older child is about 8 years old, while the younger has not yet reached 1.

Public backlash over “lenient” sentences

The ruling triggered widespread backlash on social media, with many users criticizing what they described as a lenient punishment given the severity of the crime.

Commentators argued that a five-year sentence fails to deliver justice in a case involving rape, the victim’s disability and resulting pregnancies. “Each one of these crimes on its own deserves 20 years in prison,” one commenter wrote, arguing that the court failed to account for the victim’s vulnerability.

Critics said such sentences do not serve as an effective deterrent against the exploitation of women, children and people with disabilities.

Amid the outcry, several reactions called on the victim’s legal representatives to file an appeal, seeking longer prison terms and higher compensation for the victim and her children.

Human rights group condemns ‘disappointing’ verdict

The El Ksiba branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) expressed “great concern and deep resentment” over the ruling, describing it as a major disappointment for the victim’s family and the human rights community.

The association said the victim, identified as 24-year-old “H.L.,” has endured years of abuse and exploitation linked to her mental disability. It added that her family has been caring for her first child, now 8, without any identified or accountable biological father. The abuse allegedly continued, resulting in a second child who is less than a year old.

A key concern raised by AMDH is the court’s omission of the DNA test results. Despite expectations that the testing would identify the biological fathers and help secure the children’s legal and social rights, the ruling made no reference to the findings.

“The verdict came as a disappointment, both in its leniency and in its total disregard for the DNA expertise and its results,” the group said, warning that the situation leaves the children’s future uncertain.

The association also raised concerns that the defendants remain at liberty while legal proceedings continue, warning that this risks entrenching impunity and undermining public trust in the justice system.

In response to the ruling, AMDH called for three measures: revising the verdict on appeal to reflect the gravity of the crimes, disclosing the DNA results to establish paternity and protect the children’s rights, and ensuring the full enforcement of sentences.

The group also urged lawyers and legal advocates to support the victim’s family during the appeal process, reaffirming its commitment to monitoring the case until justice is achieved.