The Ibn Sina administration suspended earlier this week hazing activities after an incident saw new students in the Medical Residency program in Rabat held for 15 hours and subjected to physical, mental and sexual abuse.
Newly admitted students were allegedly held from 2pm to 3am on December, 25 in the residence, and had their phones, keys and other belongings confiscated, one of the hazed students tells Hespress EN under the condition of anonymity.
Interns told Hespress EN they were egged, asked to crawl and stay on their knees, had flour and cold water thrown at them. Some were mocked for their disabilities.
“In addition to the physical assault, students were subjected to horrowing mental abuse, as seniors shouted they were less-than, unworthy of the white blouse, trash and failures who do not deserve decent treatment, and subjected to sexual verbal harassment.”
Four victims of the hazing will file an official complaint at the Prosecutor’s office this week against members of the Association of Internal Physicians of Rabat (AMIR), Hespress EN sources said.
“The administration is alarmed and we have the necessary medical certificates listing the ailments that students suffered.”
Ingrained culture
An internal seniors statement seen by Hespress EN said the members of the Association of Internal Physicians of Rabat would not stop the hazing. But they would limit some of the practices.
Hosing has been suspended, and asking freshmen to kneel is restricted to the indoors and can only be performed “ in case of a mistake or lack of respect.”
The AMIR board also reminded members that the club “has always practiced the cult of secrecy and will continue to do so,” advising the intern residents to “not waste their time with people who do not deserve any form of justification.”
“Traditions will always remain a mystery to people who have not experienced them,” concludes the club, whose members now risk legal action for their physical and psychological harassment.
Although an approximate 150 freshmen were subjected to this violent hazing, only a handful are taking legal action, as others remain in fear of their seniors’ retaliation, the possibility of which AMIR members expressed on multiple occasions.
Hespress EN contacted AMIR when initially reporting the story in late December, its Vice Dean Saad Yakin said that these accusations have no grounds, and that the association intends to pursue legal action against the students engaging in this “defamation.”
“I don’t know if they think we are not human, accusing us of such things, but we will in turn not stay quiet,” said the AMIR board member, declining further comment.
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