Fez- Moroccan Minister of Housing and Urbanization, Nabil Benabdellah, expressed the need to "establish progressive values in the criminal code", and called for not toughening the law against sexual relationships out of marriage and breaking the fast during Ramadan.
The Minister, who was the of Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) Forum on Monday, said that he contacted the Head of Government and the Minister of Justice regarding the parts of the draft reform law that are against the values of his party.
He pointed out that the criminal code should respect the text of the constitution. "The articles on individual liberties are at odds with the Constitution of 2011," he said.
“The current criminal code contains sufficient provisions to deter deviant behavior in this area. Therefore, there is no reason to toughen these punishments,” he said.
Article 222 of the new criminal code draft specifies that “anyone who is notoriously known for membership in the religion of Islam and ostensibly breaks the fast in public during the time of fasting Ramadan, without the reasons permitted by this religion” is liable to 1-6 months in prison and a fine of MAD 2000 to 20,000.
In the same way as the current criminal code, the new draft also criminalizes sexual relationships out of wedlock.
Article 490 of the new criminal code draft law stipulates that sex outside marriage is punishable by one to three months in prison and a fine of MAD 2000 to 20,000. The penalty is more severe when any exchange or payment is involved.
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