Moroccan activist: Women should not be forced to marry

Anwar: We want protection for young children against assaults Rabat – Judy Sabbagh Human rights activist Najat Anwar has called on Moroccans to respect the legal marital age of 18, arguing that anyone younger than 18 should not be forced to marry or do anything that “harms their innocence.” Speaking exclusively to Arabstoday, Anwar said: “The Justice Ministry approved a draft  law  to delete the second paragraph of Chapter 475 of the Penal Code,” the law which previously legalised marriage with minors who had been seduced or kidnapped.
Anwar’s organisation has appealed to national authorities to go to more efforts to change laws dealing with marital ages, particularly those which allow marriage with minors if it has been authorised by a judge.
“The aim is to provide adequate protection for young children against all assaults which encroach upon their innocence,” she said.