20 Rights Organizations Unite Against Moroccan Government Amid National Lawyers’ Strike

Since November 1, lawyers across Morocco have launched an open-ended strike, demanding the government repeal recently introduced bills they argue will significantly undermine their profession and citizens’ access to justice. This strike has resulted in a near-total paralysis of the country’s court system.

In a statement issued by the coalition, representing Morocco’s largest alliance of human rights groups, the organizations voiced “serious concern” over the recent legal amendments, which they argue pose a direct threat to both the profession and the rights of defendants. According to the coalition, the legal community’s collective stand transcends self-interest, placing “the welfare of citizens at the heart of this protest,” and opposing changes that “erode the fundamental rights of defendants and disturb justice guarantees.”

The coalition has called on the Moroccan government to adopt a collaborative approach when drafting legislation that impacts the legal field. Stressing the importance of inclusive policymaking, they insisted on “the need for a serious and responsible dialogue with the professional organizations of lawyers” over the proposed civil procedure bill. The coalition emphasized that mutually agreeable solutions are crucial for the fair administration of justice and the preservation of citizens’ rights.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), one of the leading human rights organizations, issued a statement praising the lawyers’ “valiant struggle” to defend their rights, preserve their dignity, and protect the rights of citizenship. AMDH expressed its unconditional solidarity with the lawyers and voiced support for the Moroccan Bar Association’s difficult but necessary decision to halt all legal representation services.

AMDH went further in its critique, condemning the “unconstitutional, anti-rights, and anti-democratic legislative measures” that stem from “a repressive approach aimed at subduing citizens and undermining the independence of the legal profession.” They argued that these legislative changes were driven by an attempt to resolve the financial deficits and empty state coffers resulting from widespread corruption and misuse of public funds—at the expense of lawyers and citizens.

AMDH also warned the Moroccan government of the consequences of this complete suspension, cautioning that it jeopardizes citizens’ right to access justice, a fair trial, timely adjudication of cases, and, critically, the right to adequate legal representation.

In closing, AMDH called on all progressive, democratic, and rights-oriented forces, as well as activists and unions, to stand alongside Moroccan lawyers in resisting the “repressive state control” aimed at stifling independent voices, including those within the legal profession. They emphasized that this struggle is not only a defense of lawyers’ rights but a final stand against broader efforts to suppress dissent and silence voices advocating for justice and rights in Morocco.