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A video widely shared on social media Thursday night sparked outrage across Morocco after showing several young men drinking alcohol in the presence of a young child, who was also seen holding a bottle of liquor and drinking from it while one of the individuals encouraged him to continue.
The footage triggered widespread condemnation from activists and child rights advocates, who described the incident as a grave violation of children's rights and a failure to protect minors from exploitation and harmful influences. The identities of those appearing in the video, as well as the location where it was filmed, remain unknown.
As public anger mounted, several rights organizations called for an urgent investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible. Among them, the National Organization for Human Rights and the Fight Against Corruption expressed its “deep concern and strong condemnation” of the footage, stressing that the acts shown in the video, if confirmed, “cannot be treated as mere passing humor or spontaneous behavior.”
Rights advocates: Childhood is not a space for entertainment or experimentation
In a statement, the organization stressed that any relationship between the child and an adult—whether familial, social, or otherwise—cannot serve as a moral or legal justification for exposing a minor to age-inappropriate practices that may harm their psychological development or educational well-being.
“A child is not a field for experimentation, nor a means of entertainment or a tool for producing shocking content. Adults’ responsibility toward minors requires protection, guidance and proper upbringing — not encouraging harmful behavior or presenting them with negative examples.”
The organization argued that the incident goes beyond an isolated act, raising broader concerns about attempts to normalize dangerous behavior involving children. It also called for rejecting any discourse that seeks to minimize the seriousness of the incident or justify it under any pretext.
For its part, the “Don’t Touch My Child” organization issued a strongly worded statement condemning the footage, saying it had followed the circulating videos with “deep concern and dismay.” The group noted that the child appeared to be no older than seven years old.
According to the organization, the images “shock the human conscience” and amount to a direct assault on the child’s physical, psychological, and emotional well-being. It further said the incident reflects a “dangerous decline in awareness, responsibility and moral standards” among those involved.
“Such acts cannot be considered a joke or play. They constitute a full-fledged crime and a clear violation of the child’s fundamental rights.”
The organization called on the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, security authorities, and units specialized in combating cybercrime to launch an urgent investigation to identify the individuals appearing in the video, determine where it was filmed, and take the necessary legal action against those responsible.
It also urged the judiciary to adopt a firm approach in handling such cases and to impose deterrent penalties on anyone who exploits children or uses them in content that undermines their dignity and safety.
At the same time, the organization appealed to citizens and social media users not to repost the video in order to protect the child’s identity and rights, urging them instead to report those involved to the relevant authorities.
