Last weekend, a tourist withdrew her complaint against a man in his twenties from Larache, whom she had accused of attempting to rape her. This development prompted the public prosecutor at the Tangier Court of Appeal to transfer the case to the public prosecution at the Larache Primary Court. In response, the public prosecutor in Larache scheduled a confrontation session between the two parties for next September, as a preliminary step before referring the case to the criminal chamber of the same court for adjudication, according to Assabah newspaper. The case dates back to last month, when a local cultural association hosted a group of young foreigners as part of a cultural exchange program that included homestays with Moroccan families. Within this framework, the accused, who is a member of the association, hosted the foreign tourist in his home. She later filed a complaint accusing him of attempting to rape her while they were together in the kitchen. According to her statement, the accused, who works as a waiter at a café, physically harassed her without warning, prompting her to leave the house immediately and report the incident to the authorities. Acting on the public prosecution's instructions, the suspect was arrested and placed in custody before being presented to the prosecutor. However, the complainant later withdrew her complaint, sparking controversy among human rights advocates. Several community activists voiced concerns over the reasons behind the withdrawal, suggesting possible pressure on the victim or an undisclosed settlement. Others criticized the weak legal oversight of some cultural exchange programs and called for a review of their structure, urging associations to take greater responsibility.
