Human Rights Defenders in Morocco Demand Accountability Amid Ongoing Violations

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 13th, 2024 — In a powerful show of solidarity, over 20 human rights organizations in Morocco have rallied together under the banner of the Moroccan Coalition for Human Rights Associations, calling for a mass protest this Thursday outside the Parliament in Rabat. The demonstration is set to highlight ongoing and widespread violations of fundamental freedoms in the Kingdom, with a particular focus on the repression of freedom of speech, the right to peaceful protest, and the exercise of basic civil liberties.

The protest, which coincides with the “National Day of Public Freedoms,” is being organized to demand the immediate cessation of all forms of restriction and suppression that infringe upon these rights. The coalition, which represents a broad spectrum of rights-based organizations, unions, and civil society groups, is urging both democratic bodies and human rights advocates to join their call for accountability and reform.

According to the statement issued by the coalition, Morocco’s human rights landscape has been marred by systematic and unlawful crackdowns on organizations critical of government policies. This includes the ongoing refusal by certain branches of the Ministry of the Interior to allow organizations to submit their founding or renewal applications. Such actions, the coalition asserts, are part of a broader strategy to limit the scope of civic engagement and hamper the functioning of democratic institutions within the country.

The coalition expressed outrage at these practices, which they argue are clear violations of Morocco’s constitutionally enshrined guarantees for freedom of assembly and association. These constitutional protections are aligned with Morocco’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which the country ratified, thereby committing to uphold fundamental rights such as the freedom of organization and peaceful assembly.

This suppression of fundamental freedoms has led to mounting frustration among civil society groups, which have found their legal status increasingly jeopardized. The coalition has stressed that such actions not only impede the work of these organizations but also place them in a precarious legal situation. This environment of suppression undermines Morocco’s international reputation and calls into question the government’s commitment to safeguarding human rights.

The statement from the coalition further underscores that the repeated pattern of obstruction by Ministry of Interior officials is not an isolated incident but a nationwide issue, affecting organizations and political groups in multiple regions across the Kingdom. These actions are seen as an affront to the core democratic values that Morocco claims to uphold, threatening the very foundation of public discourse, dissent, and participation in civil society.

This protest is part of an ongoing campaign to demand justice and hold the authorities accountable for their treatment of human rights defenders. The participating organizations have called on the government to urgently address the legal and practical barriers that have been systematically placed before them, reaffirming the importance of protecting the rights to freedom of speech, association, and peaceful protest for all Moroccan citizens.

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