A young 16-year-old Moroccan girl tok her own life in order to escape the devastating oppression forced upon her by Article 475 of the Moroccan Penal Code.
The article states that the "kidnapper" of a minor will evade prosecution if the abuser marries their victim.
In the case of Amina Filali, it was her rapist.
To avoid shame and the chance that no one would desire to marry Amina after her rape, the judge pushed Amina's parents to accept marriage.
After the marriage Amina told her parents that she was repeatedly beaten by her rapist.
This tortured girl did not deserve to feel that death would be her only escape from a life of misery.
The government should immediately remove the article from the Morocco's penal code and make movements to ensure women's security.
Tell Morocco: End the Exemption of Rapists that Marry Their Victims!
We the undersigned are disturbed by the enforcement of Article 475 of Morocco's penal code, which allows rapists and kidnappers to escape punishment if they marry their victims.
It is plan that this law is unjust.
It is a torturous notion disregard the abuse of women and then to have them endure a lifetime of quiet shame.
The fault is on the rapist, not the victim, and should be treated accordingly.
As was the case with Amina Filali, many of the women of Morocco would rather die than to endure such trauma.
We ask you to immediately remove Article 475 from Moroccos penal code.
Thank you for taking our comments and concerns into serious consideration.
