Muslim Moroccan friend pregnant and partner doesn't want the baby and get married

[TheresaWa]

My friend European-Moroccan grown up in Europe with traditional parents. She was living with guy (European-Moroccan grown up in Morocco but with modern parents for some issues and traditional for other). They met in an European city and she moved with him during the pandemic. Obviously her parents don't know.

She told
Him from the very beginning that her parents were traditional and she would need to get married soon-ish. He wanted to marry her last summer but his parents were against and they made her life miserable for a while. Her boyfriend and his parents visited her parents but they didn't arrange a wedding at the end. For the past 3 years he has never given her respect, position in front of his parents as he is afraid of his mum and both of them
Manipulate him
Quite easily.
They broke up few months ago and then she moved with him. She found she was pregnant few days ago. They talked and he wanted to have the baby with her and he would get married. He was so excited about it that he told his parents and the nightmare started. They have been talking to him and it gets married with her, he will against his parents and he wants her to interrupt the pregnancy. Nobody knows from her side and she is alone I'm not her European country and I'm the only one who knows. I tried to make her understand he wasn't right for her many times (sorry that I can't tell you here many many examples), but she continued with him. She can't be a single mum and she doesn't want to have an abortion. Any help? Thanks

@CherryGenoa I agree this is very sound advice but would be even better if she can find a Muslim counselor. She needs someone who can guide her with the religious and cultural contexts in mind.

I have seen that many times the family/friends/community may be judgmental about an unwed pregnancy, but once the baby comes it's hard to hold the grudge, especially as this situation becomes more common. They may have more respect for her for having the baby and being the best mom she can. Even if they don't though, the baby could be the one good thing to come out of the relationship. I wouldn't care if my whole town judged me for having a baby, at the end of the day she is the one who will have to decide what happens and live the rest of her life with that decision. And maybe the father will decide it's more important to be a father to his child and man up. If not, there can be aid available depending on where she lives. It's definitely a time to be brave. Maybe there's someone else in her community who has been through the same thing and they could be a support to her during this time. Just my thoughts.

I agree with you, a qualified experienced councillor who is also able to understand the religious and cultural . @TheresaWa I hope your friend is able to navigate this