Amina has gone!

March is the month in which Women are celebrated. Amina Filali, A 16-years-old Moroccan woman has decided to celebrate this in her own way. She was dreaming about a new rule that activists on women issues could achieve; a new rule that would have saved her life. Amina decided to put an end to her life after a judge in a Northern city of Morocco issued a rule ordering her to marry her rapist instead of applying the maximum punishment against the criminal. YEAH! WHEN A MAN RAPES A GIRL/WOMAN OUR MOROCCAN PENAL CODE HAS AN ARTICLE (457): “Rape is punishable by five to 10 years in prison, rising to between 10 and 20 years if the victim is a minor. But the rapist could avoid serving a single day in prison if he agrees to marry his victim.”

That’s a real insult to women when they are forced to live with the one who raped them!!WHY? To protect family honor! That’s really horrible and it brings tears to the eyes and I feel really enraged. I am really shocked and I cannot believe that this is happening in my country.

Traumatized by the painful experience of rape, Amina decided to end her life by consuming rat poison. Poor Amina announced to everyone that the law of shame (that dominates our society) should be abolished. Also, the law has to punish the offender not the victim.

Now, Amina has gone BUT there shouldn’t be other Amina(s). It is time that Moroccans from all walks of life fight for the abolition of article 457 of the penal code and for the adoption of new laws that impose strict sentences on rapist; new laws that protect women’s dignity.

All Moroccan women must stand up with this poor girl, because it is the ugliest and one of the most barbarian crimes and injustices that can happen to a girl. That’s a psychological turmoil and much bitter and slower than death. This abuse has to stop.

Tomorrow Saturday 17th we are all going out to say ENOUGH to these rules that humiliate us.