The First Criminal Chamber of the Court of Appeal in Tangier, Morocco, sentenced a mosque imam to 15 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old child.
The perpetrator was additionally ordered to compensate the victim.
The defendant had taught religious lessons to the victim in Larache.
The case came to light after the victim’s sister found WhatsApp messages between the child and the imam. In these messages, he was requesting explicit images from the child and encouraging her to engage in sexual acts.
The sister then filed an urgent complaint to the local authorities, leading to the subsequent arrest and trial of the imam.
It’s important to note that in Morocco, imams, or mosque leaders, are not generally regarded as religious experts empowered to provide legal opinions due to their relatively limited knowledge. Their primary duties typically include leading prayers, opening and closing mosques, and taking care of these sacred spaces, often in return for a modest stipend.
It’s important to note that in Morocco, imams, or mosque leaders, are not generally regarded as religious experts empowered to provide legal opinions due to their relatively limited knowledge. Their primary duties typically include leading prayers, opening and closing mosques, and taking care of these sacred spaces, often in return for a modest stipend.
