Moroccan families demand justice as teacher sentenced for sexual assault remains free

Ya Biladi

2 days ago

Five families from the town of Bni Tadjite, in Morocco's Figuig Province, have addressed an open letter to the Public Prosecutor and the Attorney General at the Oujda Court of Appeal, urging them to enforce a final court ruling against a teacher convicted of sexually assaulting five underage female students.
In 2021, the accused—a French language teacher—was sentenced to three years in prison. The verdict was upheld by both the Oujda Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation in Rabat, rendering it final and binding as of June 2024.
Despite this, the families note in their petition, of which Yabiladi has obtained a copy, that the convicted teacher remains free. They describe this situation as «incomprehensible for the victims and their families», especially in light of the «psychological and social suffering» the children have endured.
The signatories, parents of the victims, stress that they have made repeated journeys from Bni Tadjite to Oujda in defense of their daughters' dignity. They warn that the continued failure to enforce the sentence undermines both the authority of the justice system and the victims' right to accountability.
Families call for immediate action
In their appeal, the families call on the Public Prosecutor and Attorney General to urgently intervene and order the enforcement of the sentence against the convicted teacher, described as a married man and a father. They write that this step is essential «to uphold the dignity of the victims and restore their families' honor».
The case first surfaced in October 2019, when parents and guardians of a group of schoolgirls—then aged eight and nine—filed a complaint accusing the teacher of sexual assault and harassment.
Initially, seven families filed complaints; two later withdrew, while five continued legal proceedings.
According to the 2021 investigative judge's report, the teacher—then employed at Dakhla School in Tadjite, under the administrative jurisdiction of Bouarfa—allegedly summoned students to the board, positioned them between his thighs, and touched their buttocks and genitals. The court ultimately referred the case to the criminal court for a ruling.
Ongoing Trauma and a Father's Devotion
In a statement to Yabiladi, Houcine Boukhdou, father of one of the victims, called the assault «cowardly» and said, «From the moment the perpetrator dared to harm our daughters, we chose to act with reason and place our trust in state institutions, believing justice would prevail».
His daughter, now 13, still suffers from severe psychological trauma. «We faced many difficulties in finding psychiatric care for her, especially since we live in a small town», he said. «We tried taking her to a specialist in Oujda, but we couldn't get the help she needed».
Boukhdou, who worked in mineral and fossil collection, gave up his job to stay close to his daughter. «I couldn't bear to be away when she had a therapy session. I chose to stay until the Court of Cassation's ruling is enforced».
Despite the ordeal, Boukhdou emphasized that the family never acted impulsively or outside the law. «Even though we had every reason to lose control, we believed in the institutions of the state and the justice system».