There are probably few countries that do not have a problem with paedophilia, pornography and sex tourism. Sadly it is a phenomenon that has been fueled by modern technology. The internet has become a pornography super-highway and also provides communication and file swapping between paedophiles. Air travel and tourism have increased around the globe and so too have the numbers of men traveling to destinations where they can find young prostitutes.
In Morocco, over the past decade there have been a few cases that hit the headlines. Several years ago police in Marrakech dismantled a child pornography network being run by French nationals and in the tourist city of Agadir (southern Morocco) last year a big sex scandal grabbed the attention of the national media. In that case a German national was sentenced to three year' prison and a fine of MAD 5,000 for paedophilia, inciting a minor to vice, fitting out premises for this purpose and fostering sex tourism.
Earlier this year the Moroccan authorities arrested a network of about 18 Moroccans, among them a French of Moroccan descent, specialised in the production of pornographic films. After two months of investigations, a Marrakech court sentenced 13 people to a total of 30 years imprisonment, ranging from 6 months to 6 years in prison for each of the defendants.
The majority of them came from a popular tourist neighborhood located in Sidi Youssef Ben Ali prefecture. Aged between 18 and 20, these impoverished Moroccans found themselves involved in a very dirty adventure, risking their reputation for a very insignificant sum of money and a promise of immigration to France.
Under the Moroccan penal code, the individuals involved in a sex crime scandal, if convicted, risk one to 5 years imprisonment, with paying a fine ranging from MAD 5,000 to 1 million.
According to a statement in parliament by the Minister of Justice, sex tourism is on the rise. If his figures are accurate, then there is reason for grave concern. "The number of the cases registered in Moroccan courts in 2005-2006, involving foreigners and Moroccans with minors, has increased by 26%," Mohamed Bouzoubaa said. However, he went on to point out that... "Sexual perversion crimes are not exclusive to foreigners and must not be treated only by prison sentences but also by psychotherapy and pedagogical ways."
It is to be hoped that the campaigns against sex tourism are effective, not only in Morocco, but in the countries of origin of the offenders.
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
Why didnt the February 20 movement revolt against the sex tourism trade in Morocco?
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