Rabat – A 44-year-old man with a criminal record has been arrested in Casablanca’s Sidi Bernoussi district on suspicion of rape, robbery, and violence.
According to a security source, the arrest took place on Tuesday afternoon following a complaint filed by a woman who works as an employee at a law office.
The victim reported being raped and robbed of her mobile phone. Police swiftly launched a judicial investigation, which led to the identification and apprehension of the suspect just hours after the incident occurred.
Authorities said the man has been placed in police custody pending further investigation under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor’s office.
The inquiry aims to determine the full circumstances of the crime and establish all charges linked to the suspect.
Rape cases in Morocco have long been a source of deep public outrage, reflecting the severity of the crimes and the societal trauma they leave behind.
Despite legislative reforms and awareness campaigns aimed at strengthening protections for women and punishing sexual violence, such incidents continue to occur across the country.
Activists and legal experts have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of existing laws, faster judicial procedures, and better psychological and legal support for victims, stressing that combating sexual violence requires not only harsher penalties, but also a broader cultural and institutional commitment to prevention and justice.
Sexual violence in Morocco affects not only women but also children, as seen in the shocking case of a 13-year-old boy who was raped by 14 men during the Moulay Abdellah Amghar Moussem in El Jadida.
The incident, which came to light earlier this year, provoked nationwide outrage and calls for justice, as many condemned the brutality of the crime and the social stigma that often silences male victims.
