Court overturns paternity suit

A Moroccan appeals court has struck down a ruling that for the first time recognised a man as the father of a child born outside of marriage. The decision by the Tangiers Appeals Court sparked anger among human rights activists. A report on the News24 site notes that a lower court in January ruled that the man was the father of a girl born to a woman that was not his wife. This was based on DNA tests provided by the mother. The father had then been ordered to pay the mother $10 600. The appeals court overturned the judgment and ordered the mother to pay legal costs. ‘This is a great disappointment for the mother and her loved ones,’ said defence lawyer Ahmed Guennoun, adding that they would take the matter to the Court of Cassation (Morocco's top court) 'and place our hopes in its judges’. BBC News reports that sex outside of marriage is banned in Morocco, where nearly 30 000 single mothers give birth every year.