Guidance

Rape and sexual assault in Morocco: information for victims

Updated 16 June 2022

If you’ve been sexually assaulted it’s important to remember that it was not your fault. Rape and sexual assault is always wrong – no matter who commits it or where it happens. It is traumatic and it can affect you both physically and emotionally. Do not be afraid to get help.

This information is provided to help British nationals overseas make informed decisions about whether and how to:

• seek medical advice and attention
• report to local police
• engage with foreign legal authorities following a rape or other form of sexual assault overseas

For information on support available in the UK, see Rape and Sexual Assault: Returning to the UK.

First steps

It is your choice about what you do next, but this information may help you in coming to a decision. The most important thing is to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. You can:

• contact the emergency police number in Morocco on 190
• contact your tour operator if you are travelling with one
• contact the British Embassy in Morocco, or your nearest consulate on +21 2537633333

Embassy staff will be empathetic, and non-judgmental, and can provide information on local police and medical procedures. Anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence. They can contact your family or friends for you if you wish.

If you want to report the incident to the police in Morocco

You can approach the police directly either by the emergency phone number 190 or in person at the nearest police station.

If you have a tour operator, they should be able to arrange for someone to support you. If you are in an area where there is a British embassy or consulate, they will try to send a consular officer to support you, where timing and location allow. You will always be able to speak to trained consular staff on the telephone 24/7.

If you approach the police directly, you can also ask them to inform the nearest British embassy or consulate on (+212537633333) and they can offer you consular support.

Homosexuality is a crime in Morocco. To ensure you are not charged with any offences, you may wish to consult a lawyer before reporting any same-sex assault.

If you choose to report the crime, try to do so as soon as possible, so forensic evidence can be retained. Washing yourself or your clothes may make it difficult for the police to obtain forensic evidence. If you change your clothes, take those you were wearing to the police. You may wish to preserve evidence by retaining items such as condoms, toothbrushes, or texts.

Tell the police if you think you have been drugged.

You can ask the police to speak to a female officer, although this may not always be possible.

If the officers do not speak English, they will try to have an interpreter available, but you may have to wait for one to arrive. You may wish to consult our list of translators and interpreters.

You will need to make a statement about the incident including a description of the attacker.

Police reports in Morocco are usually in Arabic. Although the police do not usually provide their reports to the victim, they should give you a reference number to follow progress on your case at court.

The police may keep any clothes or electronic equipment which may be evidence of your attack, to present to a forensic examiner.

You do not have to surrender your passport but the police may take photocopies.

The police may send you, or accompany you to the nearest local hospital or clinic for a forensic examination. There are usually hospitals and clinics in major cities, and there are local hospitals in remote villages.

If you do not want to report the incident to the police in Morocco

It is your choice on whether to report the crime, but if you don’t report it, your case may not be investigated if there is a lack of forensic evidence.

The British Embassy will be able to help you. This includes helping you make arrangements to contact your insurance company, your family, travel back to the UK (although we are not able to pay for flights) and/or provide you with information on local support in the UK. We can provide you with lists of English-speaking medical facilities, lawyers and translators.

If you wish to speak to a female, we can have one of our consular officers available to speak to you.

If you are travelling with one, you can report the incident to your tour operator and ask them for assistance. Where possible and if you wish, the tour operator may accompany you to the local hospital.

If you want to report the incident to the police in the UK

The support available to you, and your access to justice may vary according to where you report the crime. In many countries, you need to report the crime before you leave the country, if you want it to be investigated and enable police to obtain evidence.

The transfer of a crime report from the UK police to the Moroccan police can take some time. If you file a report with the UK police only, the Moroccan police are less likely to be able to carry out a detailed investigation. They are less likely to be able to collect any evidence, for example, CCTV is normally kept for a few weeks only.

If you are staying in the country where the crime took place, you should report the crime in that country. If you are a British national and you need help to report the crime, you can contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate, or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London.

If you do not report the crime in the country where it happened and you return to the UK, you can still report the matter to your local UK police.

The UK police should send the information you provide to the country where the crime happened. However, it is for foreign police forces to decide whether to investigate a crime in their jurisdiction and they may not take action.

You can report the crime to the UK police even if you are not seeking an investigation abroad. The UK police can offer you access to victim support in the UK. They may still send some details of the crime to police in the country where it happened. This might be necessary in order to protect vulnerable people, or to stop more crimes being committed.

The medical examination: what to expect

You should see a doctor. Victims of rape and sexual assault in Morocco are usually seen by gynaecologists. They can determine if you have been injured in any way and give you advice about pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

If you wish, you may ask for a female member of the medical staff to be present.

If you want to report the incident to the police, contact the nearest police station, so that they can accompany you to the nearest medical facility. If you are already at the hospital you can ask the doctors to contact the police. This is important for your case afterwards.

If you do not want to report the attack to the police, tell the doctors when you arrive at the hospital. Medical staff are not obliged to automatically inform the police. However, they are obliged to inform the administration of the hospital.

Victims under 16 years old will be accompanied by a supervisor. If the victim is not accompanied, the case will be immediately reported to the General Prosecutor, and a social worker will be assigned to assist them throughout the procedure. The prosecutor will build a case on their behalf to prosecute any assailant. Unlike adults, victims under 16 years old are seen by paediatricians.

HIV post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective. The NHS may be able to commence or continue the 28-day treatment on return to the UK.

Emergency contraception needs to be taken within 72 hours of the incident for it to be effective.

Emergency contraceptive pills are available in almost all the pharmacies and are available as over-the-counter medicines. This does not require a medical prescription.

Foreign nationals are entitled to receive medical services in all government hospitals in Morocco. You may need to pay a fee, which is often nominal.

In private hospitals, you can usually pay with credit cards or insurance. However, public hospitals and some private hospitals may not accept credit card payment. You should make sure you have cash with you.

If you have had medication administered overseas, you may wish to keep the label or make a note of the name of the medication. You can give this to your local health provider when you return to the UK.

Police investigations in Morocco: what to expect

The police may accompany you to the scene of the crime, or where you think the attacker is located, to try to identify and arrest the person.

If the police make an arrest, they will take the suspect before the public prosecutor. The public prosecutor will press charges, depending on the evidence available.

The police will automatically forward the case to the court for legal action against any assailant.

You may attend the court hearing to make a statement in person. Otherwise, your lawyer can do it on your behalf, if you wish to leave the country after the case is filed.

Court procedures: what to expect

The Court will not automatically update the British Embassy on the case’s progress. If you do not have a lawyer, the British Embassy can request updates from the court on your behalf. The court is under no obligation to provide the embassy with information.

A lawyer will be able to obtain updates and share them with you. You will need to give your consent for your lawyer to communicate with the British Embassy. You may wish to consult our list of lawyers in Morocco.

Lawyers usually charge a fee for their services before they represent you at the court.

The court may be able to appoint a pro-bono lawyer if you do not have funds. However this is not always an available option.

The trial will take place in the local language (Moroccan Darija). If you wish to attend the court hearing, the local authorities should provide an interpreter. If you do not wish to attend, the prosecutor will proceed with the case, given the evidence available.

There is no fixed timescale for the court process. Court proceedings depend on a wide range of factors including case complexity, or if the assailant pleads guilty or not guilty.

If the perpetrator is found guilty, the court usually hands down prison sentences.

Your lawyer should be able to communicate with the court on your behalf, if you have returned to the UK. If you are required to testify, your lawyer may ask the court to allow you to testify from the UK.

If you are required to return to Morocco for court proceedings, you will need to arrange and pay for your accommodation yourself.

There are no Moroccan or UK government compensation schemes applicable to survivors of rape and sexual assault. However, the court is empowered to order the offender to pay compensation for any injuries or losses.

When you return home to the UK

You may want to let your GP or a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) know what has happened to you, so that you can talk about the experience and seek further support and advice where you live.

England

NHS Choices website or search the internet for ‘NHS SARC’.

Scotland

Archway SARC: phone 0141 211 8175

Wales

New Pathways SARC: phone 01685 379 310

Ynys Saff Sexual Assault Referral Centre - Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Northern Ireland

Rowan SARC Northern Ireland: phone 0800 389 4424

If you believe you may be at risk of having contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you should ask your local health provider to test you. You should do this even if you have been tested in the country that the assault took place in.

Support organisations in Morocco

It is your choice to let people know. If you are ready to talk about it, these organisations may be able to help you.

Association Bayti

It supports victims under 18 years old.

Km 12,5 Ancienne Route de Rabat,
Sidi Bernoussi, 20610 Casablanca, Morocco
Telephone: +212 522 75 69 65
Email: <contact@association-bayti.ma>

Association Solidarité Féminine (Casablanca)

10 Rue Mignard Palmier,
Casablanca 20340, Morocco
Telephone: +212 52 29 92 394
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm

Disclaimer

This information has been prepared by UK government officials who are not legally or medically trained. It should therefore never be used as a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. It is intended to help British nationals overseas make their own informed decisions. Neither the UK government nor any official of the Consulate accept liability for any loss or damage which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied.

Medical information has been provided by The Havens Sexual Assault Referral Centres of Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and was accurate at the time of production.