Bar associations hold government responsible for 'stalled judicial files'

The Moroccan Association of Bar Associations has placed the "full responsibility" on the government for the current paralysis in judicial proceedings, attributing the situation to the ongoing strike by lawyers. The strike, which began in protest against the proposed professional law (Law No. 66.23), is seen by the association as a necessary response to legislation that threatens the legal profession.

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We regret what happened, and we are not the cause of it; rather, it is a situation imposed on us by the government.

Hussein Zeiani, president of the association, expressed regret over the situation but emphasized that it was imposed by the government. He stated that the proposed law contains provisions that "destroy the legal profession," making the government accountable for the resulting judicial backlog. Zeiani stressed that the right to a fair trial necessitates the presence of defense counsel, as stipulated by law, particularly in serious cases like felonies and those involving minors.

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The proposed law that it (the government) introduced (Law No. 66.23 concerning the organization of the legal profession) contains provisions that destroy the legal profession. Therefore, it bears full responsibility for the current situation.

Concerns about the impact of the strike have been raised by judicial officials. Ahmed Masmouki, the King's Attorney General at the Court of Appeal in Settat, noted in an official correspondence that the repeated delays in cases are leading to an accumulation of detainees. He requested measures to prevent the judicial system and citizens from becoming "hostages to a situation" that could escalate into mass arbitrary detention.

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The conditions for a fair trial require the presence of the defense counsel whenever the law requires it.

The association is awaiting a decision from the Constitutional Court on the controversial professional law. Zeiani indicated that the association's office would convene next week to assess the situation and decide on future actions, emphasizing that the responsibility lies solely with the government for the current crisis and its consequences. He reiterated that the association does not interfere with the judiciary's internal affairs but insists on upholding legal principles and fair trial guarantees.

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The repeated delays in cases are causing an accumulation of detainees, and we request that you take what you deem appropriate to prevent the judiciary and the citizen from becoming 'hostages to a situation' and to avoid the matter 'turning into mass arbitrary detention.'