Moroccan Justice Ministry reviews lawyers' posts for disciplinary and criminal violations

Morocco's Minister of Justice, Abdel Latif Ouahbi, announced that the ministry is meticulously examining social media posts made by several lawyers. These writings, he stated, are under review due to potential disciplinary, ethical, and even criminal violations.

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We are collecting all these posts and writings and will study them, because they contain disciplinary, ethical, and even criminal violations, and we will see later the direction the Ministry of Justice will take.

Ouahbi explained that the posts in question pertain to a new draft law concerning the legal profession. He indicated that the ministry is deliberating whether to forward these cases to the public prosecutor's office, citing specific language that allegedly disrespects state institutions and constitutional bodies, referencing Articles 263 and 265 of the Penal Code.

Examples cited by the minister included a trainee lawyer suggesting disciplinary action against colleagues for not following the bar president's directives. Another lawyer reportedly described lawmakers voting on the bill as "legislative 'fraqshiya'" (a derogatory term), while others used labels like "submissive," "agents," or "traitors." Ouahbi affirmed that all such documented posts would be studied to determine the ministry's course of action.

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Either we refer these transgressions to the Public Prosecution or we do not, and we will consult the Prime Minister on this matter.

Further addressing the controversy, Ouahbi expressed dismay at the president of the Moroccan Bar Association's statement that lawyers were not concerned by the law being ratified, calling it "civil disobedience." He recounted extensive meetings and negotiations with lawyers to draft and amend the bill, emphasizing his willingness to accommodate their proposals. However, he noted that once the bill was submitted to the Prime Minister, his direct intervention ceased, as the Prime Minister holds the authority to accept or reject proposed changes.

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The statements were value judgments commonly expressed in the context of football competitions and remained within the limits of admissible criticism.