Minister Proposes Mandatory Child Support if One-Night Stand Results in Pregnancy

Morocco’s Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi said that Morocco will draft a new law imposing 21 years of child support on the fathers of children born out of wedlock. Ouahbi said that the new proposed law means a one-night stand that results in pregnancy would see the man pay child support for the following 21 years.

Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi said that Morocco will draft a new law imposing 21 years of child support on the fathers of children born out of wedlock.

Ouahbi said that the new proposed law means a one-night stand that results in pregnancy would see the man pay child support for the following 21 years.

The decision concerns single mothers as well, who will be required to pay 21 years of child support if custody of the child is granted to the father. The new law would be implemented if a DNA paternity test proves that the man in question is the biological father of the child.

Ouahbi made the statement today at a conference organized by Lafqui Titoauni Foundation, under the theme “I love you my country.”

Stressing that the draft is set to become part of Morocco’s Criminal Law, Ouahbi criticized the “lack of responsibility” on the part of parents of children born out of wedlock. He emphasized that men should take measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies outside of marriage.

The minister touched on the issue of single mothers and their struggle to raise and provide for their children without the help of the father.

In addition, Ouahbi approached the issue from a religious perspective, explaining that according to Islamic law, a child’s paternity is established solely if the parents are married at the time of conception.

He stressed that the introduction of DNA tests “changed everything,” but said that Islamic scholars are the ones who have the authority to give a fatwa (ruling) to determine whether a DNA test is enough to establish the paternity of a child born out of wedlock.

According to late Moroccan activist Aicha Chenna, the percentage of children born to single mothers contributes to more than 13% of total births in Morocco.

Significant social stigma surrounds unwed mothers in Morocco as the country punishes sexual relations out of wedlock. Article 490 of Morocco’s Penal Code criminalizes sexual relations outside of marriage.