The Club of Lawyers in Morocco has denounced «serious violations of procedural rights guaranteed under a fair trial» in the handling of the case involving Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, who faces rape allegations in France. In a statement issued on Saturday, the association argued that the proceedings have fallen short of the «guarantees provided by Article 6 §1 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the preliminary article of the French Code of Criminal Procedure, particularly in terms of expediency, objectivity, and the presumption of innocence». Citing what it describes as a «case conducted under media pressure», the Club of Lawyers noted that «the investigation was launched based on a simple statement, without a formal complaint, medical certificate, or the complainant's immediate willingness to cooperate». In the absence of forensic evidence, the association questioned the thoroughness of the inquiry, especially given that «nearly two and a half years elapsed between the initial indictment and the final charges, in violation of the principle of reasonable time». In this context, the association recalled the European Court of Human Rights' stance that «justice delayed is justice denied». This statement comes as the footballer's legal team has reaffirmed its commitment to proving his innocence. According to elements of the case reported in the French press, text messages exchanged between the complainant and one of her friends suggest the possibility of premeditation. The events date back to February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by Hakimi at his home in Boulogne-Billancourt. She subsequently visited the Nogent-sur-Marne police station to provide a brief statement but did not file a formal complaint. On March 3, 2023, Hakimi was officially indicted on charges of rape.
