Has Morocco become a safe haven for paedophiles?

For years, East Africa and South America have been havens of choice for most wanted criminals who escaped their countries. In Middle East, Saudi Arabia proudly harbored a number of dictators and controversial political leaders such Uganda's Idi Amin, Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif and Pervez Musharraf, Tunisia's Zine Abidine Ben Ali, all of whom are, or have bee, sought for justice in their home countries.

In Morocco, a country of extremes and eccentric trends, the judicial system is geared toward becoming a

safe haven for paedophiles. I am afraid, God forbids, that we are close to be tolerant of a very despicable and heinous crime.

If you don't know what I am talking about, here are the bad news : Last Tuesday, a convicted paedophile from Spain were  pardoned by King Mohamed VI at the request of Spain's King Juan Carlos who visited Morocco last month.

With the royal pardon for a Spanish paedophile serving a 30-year sentence for raping 11 children in Morocco, I am afraid the kingdom is geared toward becoming a sheltered haven for adults who are sexually attracted to children.

I hope, as many Moroccans, that this unfortunate move on the part of the royal palace will not be perceived overseas, especially in the underworld of these sick paedophiles, as a signal for them to come in flocks to Morocco without having to worry about being prosecuted as a royal pardon might be guaranteed after spending some of their terms in prison.

The royal pardon appears to be by no means appreciated by Moroccans from all of walks of life. In fact, it was condemned thoroughly, especially through  social media where a frenzy of angry postings has flooded facebook and twitter, two social media in case.

Also, Morocco's famous February 20 movement's activists, who organised anti-government protests during the Arab unrest of 2011, have called for Friday's rally in Rabat, Morocco's capital.

Apparently, the anger among Moroccans, who seem very ashamed that their judicial system have betrayed them, not being able to protect their little ones, is to escalate amidst total disregard on the part of the government. And most likely, if not surely, Ben Kirane's government is going to do nothing since the latter has no power over the king's constitutional pardon. In other words, Ben Kirane is surely as mad as the rest of Moroccans, who are not appreciative of the royal pardon, nor are they able to do something about it.

At the end, before teaming up against these monsters who prowl playgrounds, parks, schools and the like stalking children for sex, we, people, human rights activists, politicians, anti-pedophile groups, etc. should launch a campaign to pressure the government to issue a new law making paedophilia unpardonable for whatever reason including the royal pardon.

We either choose to be committed to protecting our children from these truly evil people, or  be a  a safe haven for paedophiles and the next victim will be your child.