At Hassan I University in Settat, Morocco, a student was recently expelled under accusations that she had been caught cheating on an exam. The reality? She did not submit to sexual blackmail and demands made by one of her professors.
Sign now to demand Higher Education Minister Abdelatif Miraqoui launch an investigation into this misogynistic and widespread trend of sexual harassment and abuse!
When this brave survivor came forward with her story of sexual blackmail, the floodgates were opened, and stories of hundreds of other Moroccan women came to the surface. Taking to social media to describe their experiences, students around the country paint a horrific picture of life as a woman on university campuses. This wave of testimonies demonstrates that clearly this type of sexual harassment and abuse is common and widespread. The laws meant to stop it are wildly underenforced, and other policies intended to protect victims have clearly not been enforced, either.
Time and time again, people who are victimized by perpetrators of sexual harassment and violence are expected to lead the charge against cultures of misogyny and patriarchy in all different types of institutions. But it should not be the responsibility of survivors of such harassment and abuse to tackle this problem on their own.
The only way to root out this type of misogynistic violence in academia is to conduct a full-scale investigation into what is clearly a widespread problem at Moroccan universities. No one should be coerced or forced to conduct sexual favors to receive grades! Higher Education Minister Abdelatif Miraoui must act now to prove that the Moroccan government cares about the experiences of women at universities around the country by launching an investigation. Sign the petition now if you agree!
