RABAT // Two prominent Moroccan Islamist figures have been suspended from their party following media reports that they were arrested in a “sexual position” in a car near a beach.
Moulay Omar Benhammad and Fatima Nejjar, both in their 60s and vice presidents of the Unity and Reform Movement (Mur), have been “suspended from all structures of the movement”, the party said on Monday after an emergency meeting of its leadership.
Mur is the religious and ideological wing of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) which has led a coalition governing the kingdom since late 2011.
It said the two vice presidents had committed an “extremely serious fault” that amounted to “a violation of the principles of the movement, of its orientation and its values”.
According to the privately-owned Al Ahdath news website, police detained Mr Benhammad and Ms Nejjar early last Saturday on a beach in Mohammedia, around 60 kilometres south of Rabat.
They were allegedly found in a “sexual position” inside a car, it said.
A magistrate has released the pair but they both have to appear in court on September 1.
Ms Nejjar, a 62-year-old widow and mother of six, faces a charge of complicity to adultery.
Mr Benhammad, meanwhile, a married 63-year-old father of seven, faces charges of “attempted corruption” of the policemen who detained the couple.
In his defence Mr Benhammad said he was linked to Ms Nejjar by a common law marriage, according to Al Ahdath which said his legitimate wife has not pressed for adultery charges.
Under Moroccan law, extramarital sex is punishable by a jail term of between one and 12 months.
* Agence France-Presse
