Judges suspended for lenient rape sentencing in Morocco

Supreme Council of the Judicial Power decided yesterday to penalize three judges with a six-month suspension without pay (excluding family allowances) and transfer them to another court for imposing a sentence below the legal minimum in a rape case.

The case dates back to March 2023, when the Rabat Criminal Chamber of First Instance convicted three defendants of raping a child under the age of 11, resulting in her pregnancy. The first defendant received a two-year prison sentence, while the second and third were sentenced to two years, with 18 months effective and the remainder suspended.

This initial verdict sparked outrage among human rights and civil society organizations who deemed the ruling «unfair and detrimental to the protection of children and women», demanding harsher penalties for such crimes.

In April 2023, the Rabat Court of Appeals revised the sentences, issuing prison terms ranging from 10 to 20 years for the three defendants. The first defendant was sentenced to 20 years, while the other two received 10 years each. Additionally, the court ordered compensation payments of 60,000 dirhams from the first defendant and 40,000 dirhams each from the other two, to be paid to the civil rights claimants.

The Dignity Spring Coalition, which includes various Moroccan women’s and human rights organizations, commented on the Supreme Council's decision, expressing appreciation for the disciplinary action taken against the judges. They also called for comprehensive reforms to the Criminal Code, particularly regarding the «discretionary power» of the judiciary, the disparities in sentencing, and the handling of rape and sexual assault cases.