Fez- Aside from those who have had accidents that deformed their faces, there are many who hide disgraceful stories of sorrow and anger behind the scars that mark them.
Brutal attacks using blades after minor altercations harm Morocco’s image. Misunderstandings or small problems can develop into gruesome fights involving blades, but they could be easily nipped in the bud just by resorting to communication.
In other cases, cuts on the face or body are the results of resisting attacks by a mugger.
When roaming around Morocco’s cities, you bump into many people who have scars on their faces, which makes one wonder what on earth the problem that caused the incident was. Whatever it is, the practice should be eradicated and severely punished.
Giving someone a scar on his or her face is a malicious act. It stains our image as Muslims, whose religion promotes peace and tolerance. The Prophet said, “If any one of you has a fight with his brother, let him avoid the face.” (al-Bukhaari, 2560; Muslim, 2612).
Victims who have been slashed on the face may suffer long-lasting trauma. The scar reminds them of grief and failure they have had in their life. Moreover, they are stigmatized in our society, since the gash looks repulsive and implies a criminal background to most people. Victims of this tragedy have significant obstacles in their lives. The grotesque, hideous view of their face gives a demotivating aura. Consequently, they are rejected and marginalized. On buses, people think they are pickpockets, and when they apply for a job, they are rarely hired. They are, as a matter of fact, always prejudiced and disenfranchised.
Recently, two women have been slashed by their husbands. Samira and Khawla suffered deep wounds on their faces that required stitches. Media outlets have made great endeavors to make their cases known, aiming at drawing awareness about the issue, yet responsibility is on the shoulder of all civil society.
Samira’s and Khawla’s lives, as is the case for all victims, be they male or female, have turned into nightmares. The scars are permanent, and the victims’ chances to find jobs are very weak, let alone finding a spouse. Now they are vulnerable to exploitation and delinquency. Who is going to select these people as life partners with multiple scars on their faces? Who might even want to walk or have a casual conversation with them? Though they are victims, society is outright ruthless and inexorable to change views about them.
Perpetrators of these malicious attacks seem defiant to the law because assaults are repeated frequently, as if punishment does not deter criminals. Some people always carry blades, and do not hesitate to use them as a threat to their opponents while having fights.
Using blades should be severely punished, and assailants must be discouraged. The Moroccan law is lax in dealing with these criminals. Cutting someone’s body or face can result in a maximum of five years imprisonment, depending on the intentions and the degree of harm caused, yet the implementation of this punishment remains impossible due to crowded jails and the expenses the government must spend to pay for the prison inmates. Hence, convicts sometimes get less than two years in jail.
Khawla and Samira will be prisoners all their lives, with no respite. Because of their disfigured faces, they will be objects of scorn, while their attackers will spend some time in jail and then start anew. The law seems unable to stop these kinds of crimes. Otherwise, many would think twice before attacking with a blade.
Edited by Timothy FillaThe views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy
© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed.