Morocco’s Rape Law is Anti-Islamic

Article 475 of Morocco’s state law suggests rapists can escape prosecution if they marry their victim. Since 2006 the Moroccan government has initiated to overturn this law.

After 16-year-old, Amina Al Filali, commit suicide because she was abused by her rapist post marriage, fury sparked across Morocco. Its citizens took to the streets demanding the government to hold such criminals under account.

Amina was forced by courts to marry the man who raped her, so he escaped prosecution. He and his family continued to abuse her after marriage, which led to her death by consuming rat poison.

The purpose of this law is to preserve the honour of the families as; girls who lose their virginity before marriage are demonised in these so called “Islamic” countries.

For the West, this law is bizarre and immediately fingers are pointed at the country’s predominantly practised religion, Islam. Since this story hit the headlines of Al Jazeera and other online news sources, comments claiming that Islam is the culprit have led the debate. 

The counter argument, which I am for, is that this alleged “Islamic” law is actually anti-Islamic in itself. In the holy Muslim book, Quran, there is no mention that rapists must marry their victims to preserve the family honour. However, what isn’t highlighted in reports or perhaps what the Moroccan government doesn’t consider is the true Islamic ruling of how to deal with rapists.

In chapter 24, section two of the Quran, If a man/woman commits the act of rape then they must be whipped: “flog each male/female guilty of rape one hundred lashes.”

This is how the Saudi Arabians deal with rapists and it is controversial, as some argue it is too harsh. In my opinion this punishment means fewer rapists, he/she will think twice before committing the act of rape and it shows that rape will not be tolerated, so I agree with this sort of punishment.

Countries like Morocco, which are considered “Islamic” in many cases, are not. It seems these countries abuse their women when the men are to blame. I ask the government, how is the torture and death of a minor female preserving the families’ honour? Why should the culprit be rewarded instead of being punished and why should the innocent pay the price?

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Al Jazeera’s covearge