Suspicions of human trafficking
Beyond the crimes linked to the kidnapping and abuses observed, a shadow of human trafficking hangs over this sordid affair. Indeed, organized recruitment, the degrading living conditions imposed on victims, the exploitation of people in vulnerable situations, the financial exploitation of families, the repetitive nature of the crime as well as the number of victims could meet the criteria of this crime, as defined by article 448-1 of the Moroccan Penal Code.
Human trafficking, particularly when it targets vulnerable people such as those suffering from mental disorders, is severely punished by Moroccan law. According to the provisions in force, it is punishable by penalties of up to 30 years in prison and heavy fines, depending on the seriousness of the facts and the consequences suffered by the victims. The investigation is currently continuing to determine the exact responsibilities and identify possible accomplices. Other arrests could occur in the days to come, particularly among intermediaries who allegedly played a central role in recruiting patients.
Once upon a time…Bouya Omar
July 2015, the Bouya Omar site was permanently closed at the instigation of the Ministry of Health as part of the “Karama” ((Dignity) program led by El Houssaine Louardi. This closure was coupled with an operation of evacuation of patients More than 800 people were transferred to public psychiatric hospitals across the country to receive appropriate medical care.
Located in the El Kelâa des Sraghna region, Bouya Omar was infamous for its deplorable and inhumane conditions. An informal care center for people suffering from mental disorders but also from drug addiction. These “managers” took advantage of the distress of families, often desperate by the absence of suitable medical solutions. The latter entrusted them with their loved ones who were then locked up, chained and sequestered in deplorable hygienic conditions, under the pretext of exorcising them or healing them through spiritual practices. Significant sums were paid for these ineffective and cruel “treatments”. Bouya Omar had become a symbol of the failure of the public health system and its inability to offer dignified and medical solutions for the mentally ill.
Morocco
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