María Aguilar Halak, an Argentinian dancer, embarked on a journey to Morocco in early March after securing a work contract. However, six months later, she finds herself desperate to return to Argentina following a series of alarming events that include a work-related accident, a loss of income, and experiencing gender-based violence at the hands of a man with whom she had a relationship. Halak's ordeal began when she suffered a significant injury to her spine during a performance, which rendered her unable to work. As a consequence, her employers ceased paying her salary, exacerbating her already precarious situation.
In her account, Halak has reported not only the physical injury but also incidents of physical violence and a suspected scam perpetrated by a Moroccan man. She took legal action by reporting these incidents to the Moroccan authorities, who subsequently issued a restraining order against her aggressor. Despite this legal measure, she faced further aggression, prompting her to leave the city she had called home. Meanwhile, the Argentinian Embassy has been monitoring her situation and has launched a social media campaign to raise funds for her return ticket to Argentina.
“I don’t want to be another statistic. I can no longer remain silent,” Halak expressed on her Instagram account, highlighting her determination to speak out against her circumstances. The accident that led to her current plight occurred while she was performing in a coastal city in Morocco. During a show, she accidentally stepped on a hot coal, resulting in a fall that caused severe spinal injuries. “They refused to pay my salary, and from that point on, my situation began to spiral,” she explained in an interview with LM Neuquén, sharing that the fall had damaged her L5 and S1 lumbar discs and that she now requires surgery to heal.
After the accident, Halak moved to Marrakech, where she met a man who misled her regarding his identity and profession. “I met someone in Marrakech who claimed to be a doctor, among other things. I fell victim to the typical scam where I was deceived and pressured into situations I did not want to engage in. I suffered physical violence. I rented an incredibly expensive apartment at his request,” she recounted. Despite her attempts to seek justice, she found herself back in harm’s way when the man violated the restraining order shortly after it was issued, leading to the last incident of physical aggression, during which she discovered he was not a doctor but a boxer.
Adding to her distress, Halak alleged that the man stole approximately 4,000 euros from her, funds that were meant for rent, medical treatments, and other expenses related to her stay in Morocco. In a heartfelt video, she appealed for financial assistance to facilitate her return to Argentina, explaining that the medical costs associated with her spinal injury and the money she lost during her tumultuous relationship rendered her unable to afford a ticket home. “It’s difficult for the Embassy to help me financially. I need to return to Argentina as soon as possible. The ticket is very expensive, and I have exhausted all my money on treatments and dealing with the situation with that person I trusted,” she lamented.
At 35, Halak is reaching out for help, stating, “I will not accept being blamed for this. To anyone listening who can assist me in returning home, I’m asking for help. Sharing this exposes my private life. If you can help me financially, please do. I need to see my home, my father, my family.” She concluded with a poignant message about her fear and the urgent need for change, stating, “I don’t want to continue living in fear. The justice system is flawed, and the societal norms are patriarchal. My life was at risk. I almost lost my life in another country. All I want is to return home. I came here to improve my life and complete my studies, and it went horribly wrong.”
As reported by lanacion.com.ar.
