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A family living in the commune of Sidi Redouane, in the province of Ouezzane, awoke to a profound shock after discovering signs of pregnancy in their underage daughter, who is no more than 16 years old and is still enrolled in the sixth year of primary school due to earlier academic setbacks.
The case dates back to June 1, when the victim’s family filed an official complaint with the Royal Gendarmerie immediately after noticing the signs of pregnancy, according to Noureddine Othmane, provincial secretary of the Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights in Ouezzane, in a statement to Yabiladi.
On the instructions of the competent public prosecutor’s office, the girl underwent an urgent medical examination, which revealed a shocking fact for the family: the minor was six months pregnant. Her physical build had not shown clear signs of pregnancy, which is why the matter had remained hidden from those around her for the past several months.
Lengthy investigations lead to suspects
The investigations and questioning carried out by Royal Gendarmerie officers continued intensively for five full days. According to the human rights activist, the trauma of the assault and fear initially led the victim to refrain from revealing the perpetrator’s identity and to claim that she could not remember. However, the security investigations eventually identified the first suspect, a 35-year-old man, before revealing the involvement of a second man, aged 59, in the rape and sexual assault.
It was decided that the two suspects would be brought before the prosecutor general at the Court of Appeal in Tetouan while in custody to face the allegations against them. A forensic test will also be conducted to determine the biological identity of the fetus.
Social vulnerability and coordination for support
According to the rights activist, the victim’s family lives in extremely difficult social conditions, with eight children to support, which further deepens their suffering amid the severe deterioration of the minor’s psychological state.
The League has begun coordinating with a local association specializing in maternal and child care in the area, with the aim of taking charge of the case and ensuring that the girl receives appropriate medical and psychological support until she gives birth under safe medical conditions.
The rights activist expressed hope that penalties would be toughened against anyone proven to be involved in the case, stressing that child protection is a shared responsibility. In this context, he emphasized the importance of families closely monitoring children and paying early attention to any behavioral or physical signs that may indicate they have fallen victim to violence or exploitation.
