Khawaled's father has financial demands

Chairperson of Algeria’s Wasatyeen Party, Abbas Alalou, has told Arabstoday that the father of alleged sexual assault victim Islam Khawaled is demanding financial compensation to withdraw his case. Khawaled, a schoolboy in Morocco, has accused an unnamed Algerian pupil of sexual harassment. Algerian politician Alalou has praised the authorities for attempting to resolve the matter in a peaceful manner, and criticised Khawaled's father for seeking a payout. Alalou claimed that the Algerian defendant would be acquitted, because Moroccan courts do not take into account evidence given by minors. He added that the forensic reports had shown that the victim had not been sexually harassed. The Wasatyeen Party leader blamed head of Morocco's Sailing League for the incident and urged him to speak to Khawaled about dropping his case. Alalou added that the Algerian authorities want to reach an out-of-court settlement, something the father of the Moroccan child has refused. The politician described the father's financial demands as "provocative," and added that his position is not supported by Moroccan officials.