Morocco's Political Landscape: Calls for Human Rights Reforms
In a significant political development, the Moroccan government led by Prime Minister Fatima Zahra Mansouri is facing mounting pressure from human rights organizations and opposition parties to initiate a much-needed human rights reform. This pressure has intensified particularly after the government’s program, which is expected to be approved shortly, failed to explicitly mention commitments to release political detainees or to achieve the desired human rights breakthroughs. In her government’s agenda, Mansouri has pledged to continue legislative and institutional reforms while integrating human rights into public policies, alongside promoting the status of women and youth. However, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of clear indicators pointing towards a political thaw, especially concerning the release of those imprisoned due to protests.
Just days prior to presenting her government program, human rights organizations consistently called for the release of all social movement detainees associated with peaceful expression and protests. Notably, the "Shared Memory Center for Democracy and Peace" highlighted that releasing these individuals would contribute to a cleaner political and human rights atmosphere, fostering trust between the state and society. They emphasized the importance of opening channels for dialogue to accommodate social demands while respecting the right to participate and differ in opinion. The center argued that releasing the concerned detainees would serve as a vital entry point to enhance conditions for engaging in reform.
Political Commitments Remain Elusive
Moreover, calls from the "Mediator for Democracy and Human Rights", an independent civil body, have urged the Prime Minister to revive the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by creating an environment conducive to political openness through the release of individuals still detained for social protests, as well as content creators and bloggers. Alongside this, various human rights activists, politicians, and civil society members have initiated a public campaign through a petition demanding the release of political prisoners and free speech detainees, urging the authorities to facilitate conditions for political openness and restore trust in official institutions.
According to Noufel Bouamri, the head of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights, with the formation of a new government led by Mansouri, which is composed of parties historically linked to transitional justice and reconciliation, it was expected that the government’s declaration would signal a new chapter in human rights in Morocco, particularly concerning the cases of youth associated with the "Generation Z" protests and other detainees from the Al-Hoceima protests. Bouamri expressed that while there is still an opportunity to rectify the situation and foster a human rights-friendly atmosphere, the government’s current agenda lacks the necessary political and human rights commitments that the Moroccan human rights movement has been anticipating.
The absence of clear political and human rights commitments in Mansouri's announcement, as noted by Adil Chekito, the head of the Moroccan League for the Defense of Human Rights, highlights a shortfall in addressing the urgent need for human rights reform. Chekito pointed out that there was hope this announcement would be an opportunity to declare concrete measures to address outstanding human rights issues, including the cases of detainees linked to protests and freedom of expression, alongside enhancing guarantees for press and speech freedom. Unfortunately, these demands did not receive adequate clarity or commitment in the government’s statement.
As the government moves forward, there is a growing concern that the approach to human rights issues remains focused solely on legislative and institutional reform, neglecting immediate political actions necessary to rebuild trust between citizens and institutions. Chekito asserts that the current situation necessitates an expansion of freedoms rather than their restriction, emphasizing the importance of addressing existing disparities rather than imposing new constraints. He expressed apprehension that issues of freedom and rights might come under threat, particularly as previous government signals and statements from ministers during the election campaign raised doubts about future developments.
Activist Khaled Bakkari also noted the lack of any indications in the government’s statement suggesting a commitment to achieving human rights reform, particularly concerning the release of social movement detainees and bloggers. Despite mentioning the incorporation of a rights-based approach into public policies, the statement suggested a reliance on what it deemed "positive accumulations" in the human rights trajectory, implying a lack of recognition of pressing human rights issues that necessitate a break from the previous era characterized by security and judicial rigidity. Bakkari lamented the neglect of the reality surrounding political detentions and the ongoing laws that constrain the movements of anti-corruption advocates and human rights defenders, which hinder a free and independent press.
In Bakkari's view, the government coalition, consisting of parties that have previously expressed the need for the release of detainees from the Hirak movement and the "Generation Z" protests, has the potential to contribute to a political and human rights thaw within the first one hundred days of its term without incurring any financial costs. This could be achieved through a proposal for a general amnesty law, particularly concerning those detained for social protests, which could significantly enhance the legitimacy of the current government. However, such a step requires not only political will but also the courage to act, necessitating the coalition members to move beyond mere anticipation of signals from the palace regarding this initiative.
As reported by alaraby.co.uk.
