Counselling centres help abused Moroccan women break their silence
2006-11-24
The issue of domestic violence is a growing concern in Morocco. Counselling centres have been set up to allow women to break their silence on the issue and receive help. The facilities are opposed by people who think men have their right to abuse their wives or feel the sites incite women to rise against their husbands and tear apart families.
By Imane Balhaj for Magharebia in Casablanca – 23/11/06
 [Getty Images] A victim of domestic violence poses with a placard reading "No to violence against women". |
Counseling centres exist throughout Morocco to help women affected by the global problem of domestic violence. The centres were established to provide legal, psychological and social support.
Fatima, a 32-year-old recounted three years of suffering as she waited her turn during her first trip to a counselling centre in Casablanca.
While she married for love and dreamed of a peaceful home and pleasant life, she revealed, "My husband beats me."
Her husband Mustafa started the abuse by slapping her cheek once. He followed with apologies, a gift and promises it would never happen again. While she originally thought it was a one-time mistake, Fatima recounts that he turned into a beast after repeated arguments over trivial issues.
"I started spending my nights terrified ... Blue bruises covered my body, which I concealed from my family, who didn't accept this marriage to begin with. That was sufficient justification for my husband to take revenge through 'disciplining me', affirming to them that I'm worthless," she stated.
Fatima decided to seek help at a counselling centre after the abuse went further and bruises on her face were visible to neighbours and colleagues.
 [Getty Images] An operator listens to victims of violence. |
Rashida recounted that her husband would get drunk before coming home early in the morning and wake up everyone in the house.
"He demands that I prepare food or have sex and he wakes up his two children to ask about their homework. Any resistance results in a fight, ending only with intervention by the neighbours, who rescue the children from his hands and leave me with him. I can no longer bear it. I know coming here [the listening centre] might bring me more misfortune, but I don't care. I just want to protect my children," she says.
Zeinab, a teacher, was not protected by domestic abuse by her education and social status. She had not heard of the counselling centres until recently.
"My father wronged me when he said marriage is protection … and I was raised to believe patience and obedience to the husband are commendable. Each time, I returned home broken-hearted, afraid of what people and society would say. Then I learned of thousands of women who are destroyed because of common laws, which are no longer in existence, except in the patriarchal mentality, which render women servants and a people whom men can unload all his anxiety on," she said.
Saida, another victim, states, "I fled home after he threatened to kill me one evening. He beat me thoroughly and tied me to the bed with ropes. This happened because I could not bring home enough cash to buy keif (cannabis), as my work as a domestic servant provides only enough for our daily food. I screamed, despite his threats against doing so. One of the neighbours heard me and helped me flee ... This time, after seeing my injuries, my family understood."
She adds, "I won't rest until he goes to prison and pays the price for torturing me ... When he gets out, he'll never find me. I won't give him the chance to take revenge."
 [Getty Images] An unidentified Moroccan victim talks with a counsellor. |
Fatima Akouri, an activist and member of the Casablanca-based Listening and Legal Guidance Centre of the Moroccan Association for Combating Violence against Women, attributes the growing designation of domestic violence as a problem to women's increased awareness of their rights, as well as to a national awareness campaign, and the Family Code.
"Violence against women comprises anything that might harm women. It affects families and society as a whole. It circumscribes women's dignity and freedom … Abuse takes many forms: material, emotional, physical, sexual, economic, social, legal, and political. It must be combated at all levels. It is a disaster that entrenches discrimination against women... Women become second-class citizens and violence is considered legitimate, she explained.
The Secretariat of State for Family organises a national campaign to combat violence against women every year.
"Male critics say the campaign contribute to making women insolent. If a woman deserves it, her husband can discipline her, they say. Violence, according to this outdated mentality, is a legal and religious right they associate with obedience to the husband and the duty of submission. Religion and religious law are devoid of all that. University students and female teachers … still suffer from men's dominance and the perpetration of violence against them without regard for their character or social standing as educated women," Akouri indicated.
Morocco is home to about 50 counselling centres, which receive approximately 40 cases per day. The number has multiplied since the first centre was established in 1995.
While an important role of the centres is exposing what is often kept silent, many women still suffer silently inside the walls of the home. Akouri says she once encountered a case of a woman whose husband detained her for eight hours in a dark room after beating her nearly unconscious. Her family managed to rescue her by chance.
While some critics say the centres break apart families and incite women against their husbands, Akouri counters, "When we help women realise their rights and defend themselves legally or teach them to avoid violence, that doesn't mean we want to destroy their home ... The centre's role is to make them aware of their value. We don't incite women against their husbands. In fact, the counsellors don't issue any value judgement against the perpetrator and the women with the grievance decide whether or not to prosecute."
Akouri called on the state to launch year-round awareness campaigns to expose domestic violence and "send the message to these women so they feel there are safeguards to protect them if they talk".
She said women need to know that there are listening centres open every day and that there’s a hotline which anyone can call to report a case of hostility against a woman, even if the perpetrator is the husband.
"It’s unreasonable for citizens to continue holding back from intervening in any scuffle in the street. Every time a man justifies attacking a woman by saying she’s his wife, people act as if this is a right and it’s thus not necessary to intervene in their private life," she added.
Note: The abused women in this report are not identified by their actual names, honouring their request and the request by the officials at the Casablanca counselling centre to maintain confidentiality.
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sceptique Posted 2006-11-24
I appreciate pictures stating "NO to violence" in French, whereas illetrate women and arabic-speaking people are the ones to suffer! That’s the crush of marketing….
najia Posted 2006-11-26
It is a good thing to talk about this subject, because women are still dominated, betrayed and frustrated. And above all, they are subjected to the mood of their husband, brother or father. It is the shame of this century.
محمد اوكنا Posted 2007-01-23
In the name of Allah, within the woman there’s a human being. Allah has dignified her like man and give her a deserved rank within society. Unfortunately, the role of woman was deliberately marginalized and underestimated. That’s due to several factors. The first of which is the egoism of man, then traditions and mores which are gradually disappearing, ignorance, absence of the religious spur. Violence only creates violence and in my opinion the best way to avoid aggravation of domestic affairs is dialogue. The biggest problem faced by the perpetuator of violence is ignorance of law. I mean religious law. Violence isn’t limited to the home, but chases woman everywhere. It’s quite strange that man cares for his wife but practices all types of violence on her. We daily hear news of violence and killing against woman. That’s astonishing, isn’t that woman a mother, a sister and a daughter. We should look for better ways to protect woman, help her, listen to her and wait for the results. Woman is a school; anyone who goes to school has to respect its rules. Woman should be respected and granted her deserved status in society. The best proof for the development of nations is that they gave her importance and an opportunity to show her capacities in the hope of achieving progress of society. Many greetings to you my lady, a right is never lost when there’s someone claiming it.
هدى Posted 2007-02-09
Is there no jealousy for the country
amine Posted 2007-02-11
Long live Morocco!
marie Posted 2007-02-13
Counseling centers now exist throughout Morocco, to help women concerned with domestic violence. These centers were set up to provide for some legal, psychological and social support. Long live Morocco. Woman is the future of man. You cant beat a woman, not even with a rose.
عائشة Posted 2007-03-06
Thanks, please what's the toll free number of these centres I live in the province of Taroudant
سلوى Posted 2007-03-08
Morocco is the strangest country in the world
يوسف Posted 2007-04-07
Violence against women in Morocco is still highly widespread as result of the violent culture prevailing in the Moroccan society.
abderrahim abouhachni Posted 2007-04-11
It is a good thing to talk about this subject, because women are still dominated, betrayed and frustrated. And above all, they are subjected to the mood of their husband, brother or father. It is the shame of this century. i live in the province of tiznit
rabia Posted 2007-05-18
every women needs to stand for her self by reporting any act of domestic violance to autorities and to the counseling centers,what we hope for is that these centers can offer to these victims alternative resources and protection
فاطمة Posted 2007-05-30
Is deserting the domestic bed for the purpose of work, tiredness or unwill to practise, a violence over-hidden and to those who are victims of this type of violence
سميحة Posted 2007-09-24
Firstly, I thank all the staff of Magharebia. Violence against women is wicked and is condemned by our religion and law. Does the man not know that the woman is the mother, the sister, the daughter and wife. God has honored them, they’re the sisters of man. Awareness, faith and understanding are the bases of a happy life. I encourage Counseling Centre and hope there will be one in my town. I am trying to take this step inchallah.
نعيمة Posted 2007-09-24
I want please names of Counseling Centres in Marrakech, thank you.
فاتحة Posted 2007-11-07
I'm about to receive a counselling centre in my town. Please provice me with information and if you have names of sites that can help me to understand the way to receive complaints please send them to me by email. God bless you.
omar Posted 2007-12-18
I am a man and I have been beaten and would you guess that it was my wife who did it? It is true: I am the exception!!! I have marks on my face and one of my fingers has been fracture because of her! In spite of this all, I just take it because I love my children. But, I am thinking about suicide! I am looking for a centre for men where I can be listened to and advised.
مغربي Posted 2008-01-26
In the name of God. Peace and prayer on the most honourable prophet, our master Mohamed, his family and all his companions. Before I start, I would like to thank all associations who fight violence against women. Woman is a weak creature and needs protection. But the sisters have exaggerated the pressure on Moroccan husbands. The Moroccan man is surrounded by an arsenal of laws and texts which dissuade him from marrying from the beginning. But these associations which call for stopping violence against women as well as human rights associations just focused the idea of controlling the phenomenon within Moroccan territories but forgot to defend the reputation and dignity of the Moroccan woman in the whole world. This reputation has become contaminated by the acts of Moroccans living namely in Arab and Gulf countries. The word ‘Moroccan girl’ has become associated with prostitution, corruption and moral depravity and that there are only prostitutes in Morocco. So please every honourable Moroccan woman and virgin should work in this trend because it damages every honest citizen. Because beating can be healed, but dignity, once broken and contaminated, has no treatment… Sincerely yours.
هودة Posted 2008-03-16
Very good.
ايمان Posted 2008-03-17
I am a woman aged 21. I am subject to much violence from my husband who married me when I was 18. I am looking for the numbers of associations in the city of Kenitra which can help me. I suffer so much from my husband. He is alcoholic and addicted to drugs. Many thanks to anyone who tries to help me by writing to my email.
zadid Posted 2008-03-22
Why don’t you write in Arabic, do you think all Moroccans are good at French?
nouh Posted 2008-03-22
Excellent website.
سعاد المغربية Posted 2008-04-02
We don’t want to always accuse men of being violent to women. Sometimes women provoke men with things that hurt and offend their dignity, whether by words, acts or signs. This drives man to beat her. I am a woman and I know many such examples I am talking about, so that we aren’t just egotistical and undemocratic. Unfortunately this is what we live. Woman accuses man and man in his turn accuses woman. This is a result of the way of education and the background in which every individual grew up within society. If the individual grows up in a violent environment, he will certainly be violent with everyone, not just with women but with everyone. Therefore, we need awareness-raising, serious education for all and criminalisation of violence against women. Our problem is always with semi-solutions and we don’t look at the base, the cores which produce that. I also live with a violent man by nature, but I am lucky because he doesn’t practice physical violence on me but rather verbal violence, the acts are there and I find excuses for him and I also refer to the environment in which he grew up. He must only be violent. This is the criterion of virility in the opinion of his father. He is violent even with himself. Therefore, I insist on good education and raising awareness through mass media and schools.
ياسمين Posted 2008-05-19
I want the address of the association in Kenitra.
Samira Posted 2008-10-19
There are some values that need to be forgotten for our own good!
ranjeet Posted 2009-01-02
magharebia , here i give advise to person. he always try to understand her problem and solve it .it is not way we don’t want to always accuse men of being violent twomen. Sometimes women provoke men with things that hurt and offend their dignity, whether by words, acts or signs. This drives man to beat her. I am a woman and I know many such examples I am talking about, so that we aren’t just egotistical and undemocratic. Unfortunately this is what we live. Woman accuses man and man in his turn accuses woman. This is a result of the way of education and the background in which every individual grew up within society. If the individual grows up in a violent environment, he will certainly be violent with everyone, not just with women but with everyone. Therefore, we need awareness-raising, serious education for all and criminalization of violence against women. Our problem is always with semi-solutions and we don’t look at the base, the cores which produce that. I also live with a violent man by nature, but I am lucky because he doesn’t practice physical violence on me but rather verbal violence, the acts are there and I find excuses for him and I also refer to the environment in which he grew up. He must only be violent. This is the criterion of virility in the opinion of his father. He is violent even with himself. Therefore, I insist on good education and raising awareness through mass media and schools. .................. ranjeet
fadila Posted 2009-04-19
Salam alikum. I am 25. I am a divorced woman. I have a boy, 4. My father still exercises all forms of violence on me because I have divorced. My son is still young and this monster tortures him claiming who will provide for him and me. Can someone help please? I live with my son daily on the hope that our call will be heard by someone one day and will save us. He tries to kill me because I am divorced. Please help me.
اماني Posted 2009-05-10
Salam alikum. I would like to ask and wonder at the same time. What is the ruling of justice as well as society about a husband who lived with his wife, had children with her and divorced her twenty years ago???? When she knew about it, he tried to charge her with many accusations… I want conclusive and satisfactory answers. There are relics of the conversation not continuation.
naima Posted 2009-05-27
My name is Naima. I am from Casablanca. I am suffering. I have run away. I am in a serious psychological state. I want to contact you, but I do not have your telephone number or address. I want your information in order to contact you. Thank you. -Sincerely
ليلى Posted 2009-06-11
Salam alikum. I want of you my sister the social worker to inform me about the way you tackle these problems. Thank you.
Anonymous Posted 2009-09-28
Salam alikum. I ask you, my sister who's active in the association work, to provide me help and your contact information so that I can get in touch with you in Tangier. Thank you.
سميرة Posted 23 days ago
Salam alikum. I have a big problem with my family. I want to get in touch with you to solve it. I am 28. Please, reply quickly.
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