Rabat – Police in Beni Mellal arrested six individuals on Tuesday, including a 16-year-old minor, for their alleged involvement in the sexual assault of a woman.
Police said the arrest took place in coordination with Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST) following an investigation into a complaint filed by a 32-year-old woman.
The woman alleged she had met one of the suspects through a mobile application. According to her complaint, she met the individual in Ben Mellal and accompanied him to a rural area on the outskirts of the city.
She said the suspect and a number of accomplices subjected her to sexual assault.
Police launched an investigation and identified all suspects, arresting them at various locations in a rural area called Beni Mellal.
Police also seized two motorcycles suspected of having been used to facilitate the commission of the alleged criminal acts.
Police have put the suspects in custody, while the minor suspect has been placed under judicial supervision. An investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances and motives surrounding the case.
In April, the Mobilising Rights Association reported 886 prosecutions that were recorded for sexual harassment in public spaces.
The data includes 56 prosecutions for intentional homicides of women, 649 prosecutions for rape, and 2,568 prosecutions for violence resulting in more than 20 days of incapacity
The report highlights the need for greater alignment between Morocco’s legal framework and the objectives of Law 103.13 — an issue long raised by women’s rights groups.
