Moroccan official defends politician against property criticism, citing legal process

Moroccan Secretary of State for Employment Hicham Sabri has defended Fatima Ezzahra Mansouri amidst controversy surrounding a property, asserting that the targeting of Mansouri is "wrong."

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targeting Mansouri is wrong.

Sabri, who is also a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party's political bureau, stressed that discussions about the property should be grounded in legal facts and technical data, free from "preconceived judgments" or interpretations lacking adherence to established urban planning and property regulations.

Explaining the property's background, Sabri clarified that it was not state, royal, or communal land. Instead, it was originally owned by an individual, and its ownership was transferred through recognized legal channels. He noted that public discourse often overlooks the property's nature and the legal path taken to alter its status within urban planning frameworks.

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the courts cannot issue rulings based on what people want, but on what is constitutionally correct after an analysis that the court makes.

Sabri elaborated that transitioning a property from agricultural to buildable status is not an arbitrary act by a single person. It involves a series of legal and institutional procedures, starting with urban planning documents and master plans, followed by public announcements, opportunities for objections, and final approvals from relevant institutions. These processes are regulated and transparent, allowing affected parties to exercise their legal rights.

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the court cannot react, because constitutionally we have a reservation that we cannot speak about our rulings. However, I want to take this moment to educate and explain to the population that the court is the guardian of the Constitution and as such has a fundamental role to fulfill.

Addressing criticisms related to the property transaction's notarization, Sabri, drawing on his professional experience as a notary, stated that notaries rely on official documents and ownership certificates issued by competent authorities. They do not possess the authority to change a property's nature or determine its urban planning status. Such transformations are handled through administrative and technical procedures independent of the notarization process. He concluded by urging that public debate on real estate matters be based on precise legal information, avoiding political exploitation or biased judgments that could harm institutional image and trust in the rule of law.

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There will always be someone who likes the ruling and there will be people who do not like the ruling, but the guarantee for citizens is that the court does not let itself be influenced by those opinions that people have or those desires that people have, but rather rules correctly after a very deep analysis that leads it to a conclusion and based on that conclusion a decision is made and that is the role of the courts.