Khadija, 17, calls on victims of sexual abuse to speak out after she was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Moroccan teenager who was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped has urged women “never to remain silent” about sexual abuse and harassment.

The 17-year-old – identified only as Khadija – spoke publicly this summer about a two-month ordeal in which she claimed she had been abducted, tattooed, burned and raped by at least 12 men.

Her case sent shockwaves through the kingdom and prompted a group of Moroccan women to create the movement #Masaktach – “I will not keep silent” – to campaign against violence.

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“For each and every girl or woman, I don’t want this to occur again,” Khadija told the Guardian. “I want this to stop and I want the women to be courageous.”

Since speaking publicly of the attack, she has been accused of lying and of having a “bad reputation”, but Khadija said the support of those close to her and of women campaigners meant she had not lost hope. “I am surrounded by good-hearted, kind people and I trust them a lot.”

Khadija alleges she was abducted from outside a relative’s house in central Morocco during the month of Ramadan, then starved, drugged, burned with cigarettes and tattooed with swastikas. In September, 11 men appeared in court. The case continues.

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Khadija said she had been “psychologically crushed” by her ordeal, which has left her and her family unable to leave the home.

She said she was seeing a psychiatrist, adding that she could not bear to look at the tattoos she was left with.

“I wish to take them off as soon as possible, because I cannot go to school or outside while I still have them, while some people can come and see me like that. I can’t stand it and I feel hurt a lot,” she said.

“My father is no longer the same. His life has changed. He no longer works; he no longer goes out. We all never leave the house. They are all hurting. I no longer go out; I just stay home,” she said.

Khadija added that she has avoided comments from some of the families of the accused, who have claimed that she is lying and questioned her character.

Reading online messages of support gave her joy, she added. “I am grateful for the people standing by my side even those I’ve not met. I thank them for trusting me this much.”

This month, Masaktach campaigners took to the streets of cities across Morocco to raise awareness of violence against women, handing out whistles for women to blow if they face abuse. According to a recent UN Women report (pdf), two-thirds of men believe women should tolerate violence in order to keep the family together.

In February, Morocco adopted a law criminalising some forms of gender-based violence, but critics claim it doesn’t go far enough, failing to define domestic violence or even outlaw marital rape.

Khadija said she had faith in the justice system and hoped to start a new life. She dreams of continuing her education and becoming a lawyer or journalist.

She hopes that other women will speak out. “I don’t want what happened to me to ever take place again. I would never want another girl to be put in the same situation.”