Morocco has been thrown into outrage following reports that a 13-year-old boy was allegedly drugged and gang-raped during the annual Moulay Abdellah Amghar festival in El Jadida province. According to judicial sources, the victim was hospitalized and underwent a forensic medical examination that confirmed sexual assault. His testimony, given in the presence of his mother, has triggered a judicial inquiry and the arrest of several suspects. At least five men have already been referred to the Court of Appeal in El Jadida and placed under judicial review, while authorities continue their search for other alleged perpetrators.
The case has sparked a strong response from rights groups and the wider public. Organizations such as “Don’t Touch My Child” condemned the assault as a “crime against humanity” and pledged to provide legal, social, and psychological support for the victim. Morocco’s National Human Rights Council (CNDH) has also intervened, monitoring the investigation and calling for tougher penalties against perpetrators of sexual violence against children. Activists are urging reforms to Morocco’s Penal Code to ensure harsher punishments for such crimes and to close existing gaps in child protection laws.
Public anger has grown rapidly, with widespread calls for an end to impunity and demands for accountability. Many Moroccans are pressing for the harshest possible sentences for those found guilty, including long prison terms and stronger deterrent measures. Rights groups have also emphasized the importance of protecting the victim’s identity and ensuring responsible media coverage as the case unfolds.
For now, judicial authorities continue their investigations, and more arrests are expected. The case has become a rallying point for civil society, pushing the demand for stronger safeguards for children and decisive justice against those who prey on minors.
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