Rabat- On the occasion of International Safe Abortion Day on September 28, many in Morocco push for reform of its criminal code that criminalizes abortion. A protest to encourage change in the law is to be held today outside the parliament building in Rabat, at 5:00 pm.
The United Nations Women took to Twitter to spread awareness under the hashtag #SafeAbortionDay stating, “Over 1.2 billion women & girls live in countries with some restrictions on access to safe abortion. When safe & legal access to abortion is restricted, women are forced to resort to less safe methods, often with damaging results.”
Morocco has recently experienced public outrage as the laws against abortion left Meriem, a 14-year-old girl with no option but to get an unsafe secret abortion. The teenager was a victim of sexual exploitation and became pregnant by her abuser. The unethical abortion was carried out by a woman who pretended to be a nurse, in the home of her abuser, which tragically ended in the 14-year old losing her life.
This devastating event led to a movement in Morocco initiated by Yasmina Benslimane, a Moroccan woman who has dedicated her career to advocating for female empowerment as the founder of her nonprofit organization Politics4her.
Benslimane took to social media and posted a video pleading with people to sign the petition “Pour Meriem” to try and push for laws to be changed in Morocco. The hope of feminists is that the nation does not have to experience another loss of a woman or girl due to unsafe abortion when the person has been subjected to cases of rape, incest, or her health is threatened by the pregnancy.
The activist started her video by stating “Welcome to another day in this patriarchal world.” Benslimane continued, “there is an urgent call for justice […] the penal code in Morocco sentences those who participate or undergo an abortion with up to five years in prison […] yet it is estimated that 600-800 clandestine abortions happen daily, therefore, criminalizing abortion only prevents safe abortions.”
In light of today’s related international day for safe abortions, a protest is being held to spread awareness for Meriem and all other women and girls that have passed away due to unsafe abortions. Attendees of the protest have been asked to wear green in solidarity.
Today’s event has been organized by Moroccan Outlaws, an organization that gained recognition following the arrest of Moroccan Journalist Hajar Raissouni in 2019. At the time, the journalist was convicted for allegedly having an illegal abortion and pre-marital sex, claims which Raissouni has denied. Moroccan Outlaws 490 refers to the penal code 490, which imprisons women for pre-marital sex.
Read Also: Moroccan Association Calls for Abortion Law Reform After Death of 14-year-old Girl
