Abdelaziz Bennani, a distinguished lawyer, political activist, and staunch defender of public liberties, passed away on August 26, 2026, at the age of 87. His dedication to human rights advocacy spanned several decades, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of civil liberties in Morocco.
Born in Fes in 1939, Bennani moved to Casablanca in 1965 after earning his law degree in public law from the University of Rabat in 1963 and joining the Casablanca Bar Association. His commitment to social justice and political activism emerged during his university years. From 1959 to 1964, he served on the executive committee of the National Union of Moroccan Students (UNEM), aligning himself with leftist ideologies and joining the National Union of Popular Forces (UNFP) upon its inception in 1959.
Within the UNFP, he assumed several leadership roles, including serving as the secretary of the youth organization from 1967, then as the regional secretary in Casablanca, and a member of the administrative commission from 1972 to 1975. His legal career was marked by significant involvement in politically sensitive trials, where he represented activists and figures charged in politically motivated cases. Bennani was notably active in trials related to the events of March 23, 1965, the Omar Benjelloun case in 1966, and the defense of Ali Yata and other members of the Party of Liberation and Socialism. Additionally, he took part in the defense during the trials in Marrakech and Skhirat in 1971, as well as cases involving revolutionary leftist activists in the early 1970s.
His political journey continued with the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), where he was appointed political rapporteur at the founding congress in January 1975 and later served as the regional secretary in Casablanca until 1977. However, disillusionment set in towards the late 1970s, culminating in his departure from the party in 1993. Throughout the early 1970s, Bennani faced multiple arrests due to his political activities, prompting a gradual shift towards the defense of human rights.
Leveraging his legal expertise, he became actively involved in promoting the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. In 1988, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (OMDH), serving as its president from 1992 until 2000. His advocacy extended to national discussions surrounding public liberties and democratic reforms, contributing significantly to debates on the reform of public liberties laws, women's rights, democratic transitions, and criminal procedure codes.
Bennani also participated in dialogues addressing severe violations of human rights, being a member of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER) from 2004 to 2005, and continued to engage in conferences evaluating the outcomes and challenges of this experience. Regarded as a principled individual committed to human dignity, Abdelaziz Bennani leaves behind a profound legacy devoted to the defense of freedom and fundamental rights.
In 2017, the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) honored him by publishing a collection of testimonies titled _Abdelaziz Bennani: The Trailblazer_. This title encapsulates the journey of a lawyer and activist whose unwavering commitment has significantly shaped the history of human rights advocacy in Morocco.
As reported by lebrief.ma.
