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Rabat – Police in Agadir arrested a 65-year-old retired doctor for his alleged involvement in an illegal abortion practice, Morocco’s news agency (MAP) reported on Tuesday.
The suspect, who has a prior criminal record related to illegal abortions, was arrested during a security operation conducted within an apartment in Agadir.
The arrest took place while the accused was in the act of performing an abortion on a 22-year-old woman, with another woman present, under “unhygienic conditions,” said the MAP report.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of a secretary working at another medical clinic who is believed to have participated in the illegal abortions.
Following the recent arrest, the doctor, secretary, and the two women involved are currently in police custody, undergoing an investigation under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Abortion is criminalized in Morocco under Article 453 of the penal code, except in cases where the physical health of the mother is at risk.
Last year, various associations and activists called for reforms to the country’s abortion law, advocating for safe and legal access to abortion.
The tragic case of a 14-year-old girl named Meriem, who lost her life due to an unsafe clandestine abortion, further highlighted the urgent need for reform.
Read Also: Moroccan Association Calls for Abortion Law Reform After Death of 14-year-old Girl
The Spring of Dignity Alliance, among other associations, criticized the existing laws, claiming that “they pushed women and girls to seek unsafe clandestine abortions regardless of the circumstances surrounding their pregnancies.”
To prevent similar tragedies from occurring, the association called for a “comprehensive and radical reform of Morocco’s criminal law,” ensuring alignment with the constitution and international covenants.
They stressed the importance of decriminalizing “medical abortion” and regulating it within a public health code, following the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
The arrest of the retired doctor has once again ignited the debate surrounding Morocco’s abortion laws. Advocates continue to stress the urgent need for comprehensive reforms that prioritize the health and well-being of women and girls.
