Morocco’s institutional our bodies, civil society rejoice stance shift towards demise penalty

Morocco plans to vote for the primary time on a United Nations decision calling for a moratorium on the demise penalty, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi introduced Monday, signaling a possible coverage shift on a long-debated subject.

The announcement forward of the UN General Assembly vote on Dec. 15 has been welcomed by constitutional our bodies and rights teams advocating for the abolition of capital punishment in Morocco.

Amina Bouayach, president of the National Council for Human Rights, described the transfer as a daring step towards abolition, aligning with suggestions from Morocco’s Equity and Reconciliation Commission. “This government decision represents a significant step in Morocco’s journey toward abolishing the death penalty,” Bouayach advised Hespress.

Morocco has not carried out an execution in additional than 30 years, and rights organizations have urged the federal government to align its official place with this de facto moratorium.

Advocates say the nation also needs to take away capital punishment from its penal code. “The right to life is facing many challenges in the Middle East and Africa. Morocco’s decision sends a global message about the importance of protecting this fundamental right,” Bouayach added.

Abdellah Massad, secretary-general of the Moroccan Observatory for Prisons, known as the choice “wise and long overdue.” He expressed hope that it could mark the start of a broader effort to abolish the demise penalty fully.

“Capital punishment is a brutal relic of the past with no place in modern law,” Massad stated, noting that judicial errors can result in irreversible penalties. “This is about rejecting vengeance, not advocating for impunity.”

While Morocco’s vote may signify a turning level, full abolition could take time. Rights teams argue for a gradual method, starting with lowering the imposition of demise sentences.

“Our ultimate goal is a penal code free of any mention of the death penalty,” Massad stated.