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Rabat – Abdelilah Benkirane, the leader of the Justice and Development (PJD), has vehemently criticized Morocco’s Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi for his controversial proposal to legalize sexual relations outside of marriage in Morocco.
In a sharp rebuke, Benkirane lashed out at Ouahbi in a speech in Rabat’s PJD headquarters, calling him a “minister of corruption.”
“How is it possible for a Minister of Justice to defend what is called consensual relations? These are just names, and there is no need to mix things up. There is no such thing as consensual relations; there is only adultery, sodomy, and rape,” he said.
For Benkirane, this controversial proposal is unacceptable under Morocco’s government of “Amir al-Mu’minin” or commander of the faithful.
The title reflects the role of a supreme leader of a Muslim community or country, highlighting King Mohammed VI’s religious authority and leadership.
“This is not a Minister of Justice; this is a Minister of Corruption,” he firmly remarked. “It is unacceptable for him to remain a minister in the government of Amir al Mu’minin. How will we address this?”
In March, Benkirane threatened to host a million-people march against Ouahbi’s reforms referring to individual freedoms, including those related to sexual relations outside marriage.
“The Moroccan people will not accept this,” Benkiran said, referring to the new reforms. “We need to organize a million-people march, and we are ready to do it once again,” he said, calling on people to rally against Ouahbi’s principles.
In June, Benkirane also expressed his concerns regarding the implications of similar reforms.
He also criticized Ouahbi for his statements in May, in which he lashed out against the Moroccan hotel policy of demanding marriage contracts from guests.
lashed out at hotels demanding marriage contracts from guests.
In response, Benkirane demanded clarification from Ouahbi regarding his “exact intentions,” expressing doubts that the Minister of Justice acts based on his personal beliefs.
Benikrane stressed that this policy was crucial as requiring marriage contracts from guests “prevented some people from committing adultery and marital infidelity.”
Morocco criminalizes sexual relations outside marriage under Article 490 of the Moroccan Penal code. Under Morocco’s penal code, sexual relations outside marriage is prohibited and can be penalized with a prison sentence between one to two years.
Although Benikrane’s remarks are not isolated criticisms of Ouahbi’s proposals, there is a recent wave that supports some of these changes in Morocco. In regards to extramarital and premarital relations, several rights groups have been urging the government to reverse their policies and decriminalize the act.
