Sinister underbelly of Instagram-perfect paradise adored by Americans… where men prey on women in maze of unmarked alleys: ‘I just started screaming’
A Daily Mail travel report highlights a darker side to Morocco's popularity with American tourists, describing accounts of women being targeted for sexual assault and robbery in the narrow, unmarked alleyways of its old towns and medinas. The piece contrasts the country's image as a photogenic, Instagram-friendly destination with testimony from women who say they were preyed upon by men exploiting the maze-like streets, where it is easy for visitors to become lost and isolated. It raises concerns about tourist safety and the gap between the curated social media portrayal of Morocco and the risks some travellers say they have encountered.
The article draws on first-hand accounts, including one woman describing screaming for help during an incident, to illustrate how quickly situations can turn dangerous in the country's old quarters. It frames these experiences as part of a wider pattern of scams and assaults affecting tourists, particularly women travelling in Morocco's historic cities, and suggests the disorienting layout of unmarked alleys is repeatedly exploited by opportunistic offenders.
- Report details assault and robbery claims against tourists in Morocco
- Women say they were targeted in maze-like unmarked alleyways
- Highlights gap between Morocco's Instagram image and safety risks