A 24-year-old Moroccan woman with a mental disability was gang-raped in the village of Bouidmouma in Aghbala, leading to an eight-month pregnancy and a judicial investigation. Her family, living in extremely difficult conditions, is seeking justice as the accused repeatedly fail to appear in court. DR ‹ › A 24-year-old woman named Hanane, who lives with a mental disability, has been the victim of a horrific assault in the village of Bouidmouma in Aghbala, Beni Mellal Province. The attack resulted in a pregnancy that has now reached its third trimester. After the case came to light, local authorities, acting under direct instructions from the Wali of the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, transferred her on Sunday to the maternity home in Aghbala to ensure she receives appropriate medical care. Speaking to Yabiladi, her cousin Lahcen, 37, who supports a family of 13 under one roof, recalled that Hanane had previously been assaulted in 2018, an incident that resulted in the birth of a child who is now seven. He explained that, due to her mental condition, which gives her the cognitive level of a child, she had been unable to identify the perpetrator at that time, providing a false name out of fear. A judicial investigation and DNA test eventually proved that the initial suspect was not involved, and the case was closed without identifying the real assailant. Lahcen said the family was stunned when they discovered the new pregnancy a few weeks ago. Because of her limited ability to communicate or understand what she was experiencing, the pregnancy was only detected when she was already five months along. When questioned, Hanane told her family that several individuals had assaulted her, including someone the family suspects was involved in the 2018 incident. After learning of the pregnancy, the family immediately sought medical care. A doctor examined her and notified the Royal Gendarmerie. Authorities summoned the four individuals named by the victim, but, according to Lahcen, «they denied everything, even claiming not to know her, despite the fact that we all live in the same village». Postponed Court Sessions Due to the Defendants' Absence The investigative judge at the Court of Appeal in Beni Mellal has heard Hanane's testimony three times. The first hearing scheduled in October was postponed after the defendants failed to appear, and a second hearing this month was postponed for the same reason. A new session is now set for December 23. The family lives in extremely difficult conditions in a mud home lacking basic necessities: no electricity, no running water, no secure doors, and no bathroom, forcing them to relieve themselves outdoors. The children walk seven kilometers each way to reach school, a hardship made worse in winter during snowfall. Lahcen, who is both Hanane's guardian and caretaker of the household, has been battling cancer since 2024. He previously worked as a blacksmith but had to stop after doctors instructed him to avoid strenuous work and exposure to sunlight. He now relies on irregular day-to-day jobs that do not provide stable income. Despite the overwhelming challenges, the family is determined to pursue justice for Hanane. «I will not remain silent about this crime», Lahcen said with emotion. «Not until the last day of my life».
